A woman who accused hip-hop moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 has voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit, court records revealed on Friday. The civil suit, filed in December 2023, alleged that the two music icons raped the plaintiff at a party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000.
According to a document submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the plaintiff stated that she was dropping the case “with prejudice.” This legal term means that the lawsuit cannot be refiled in the future. It remains unclear whether a settlement was reached between the woman and the accused parties.
Jay-Z, 55, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has strongly denied the allegations since they surfaced, describing the claims as “frivolous, fictitious, and appalling.” Following the case’s dismissal, the billionaire rapper and entrepreneur issued a statement expressing relief at the outcome.
“This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims,” Jay-Z said. “I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.”
The lawsuit initially accused both Jay-Z and Combs of taking turns assaulting the plaintiff while another celebrity looked on without intervening. The complaint also alleged that such incidents were not isolated and that Combs and Carter had been involved in similar cases of abuse.
Meanwhile, Sean “Diddy” Combs, also 55, continues to face separate federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors allege that he engaged in a pattern of coercing women into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence. Combs has denied all charges, and his criminal trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.
The dropping of the civil lawsuit marks a significant development in a case that had drawn widespread public attention, particularly amid ongoing legal battles involving Combs. The dismissal raises questions about whether any settlements were reached, though neither party has publicly confirmed such an agreement.
As Combs prepares for his upcoming trial, this latest development closes a chapter for Jay-Z, who has vowed to move forward following what he called a deeply distressing ordeal.
