A lawsuit alleging Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in 2000 has been dismissed, according to a legal filing submitted on Friday in New York.
The attorney representing the anonymous plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, voluntarily withdrew the case, according to the court records.
The filing was submitted by attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing dozens of plaintiffs in lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct against Mr. Combs.
The filings state that the plaintiff “hereby gives notice that the… action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice.”
With the dismissal being with prejudice, the lawsuit cannot be refiled in its current form.
Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, released a statement signed by him, calling the dismissal a “victory.”
“The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed,” he wrote. “This civil suit was without merit and was never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims.”
“The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones, and I have endured can never be dismissed,” said the rapper, who is married to singer Beyoncé.
He added, “The courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused alike.”
Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, said in a separate statement that the case “never should have been brought.”
“By standing up in the face of heinous and false allegations, Jay has done what few can—he pushed back, he never settled, he never paid a red penny, he triumphed, and cleared his name,” he said.
Jane Doe initially filed the lawsuit against Mr. Combs in October before adding Jay-Z’s name in December. She claimed both men assaulted her in 2000 following an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty.
Jay-Z strongly denied the allegations, stating that his attorney received “blackmail” intended to coerce a settlement. He said this had the “opposite effect” and spurred him to publicly refute the claims.
In December, Jane Doe gave an interview that cast doubt on her credibility. She admitted that “not all facts are clear” and acknowledged, “I have made some mistakes. I may have made a mistake in identifying.”
Last month, Jay-Z formally requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit, citing inconsistencies in the accuser’s account. The motion was granted by United States District Judge Analisa Torres, leading to the lawsuit’s dismissal.
Although Jay-Z is no longer subject to legal action in this case, Mr. Combs continues to face over three dozen civil suits.
Following Friday’s dismissal, Mr. Combs’ legal team issued a statement affirming his innocence.
“For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more focused on media headlines than legal merit. Just like this claim, the others will fall apart because there is no truth to them,” the statement reads.
It continued, “This is just the first of many that will not hold up in a court of law.”
Since September 2024, Mr. Combs has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, on federal criminal charges involving racketeering and sex trafficking.
He has been denied bail three times and remains in custody awaiting his trial on May 5, 2025.
