A judge has ruled that the woman accusing Jay-Z of rape can proceed anonymously in her lawsuit, a decision made in light of the sensitive nature of the allegations.
The ruling comes as Jay-Z’s legal team faces criticism for what the court described as a “relentless filing of combative motions.”
The lawsuit, filed on 8th of December, accuses the rapper, real name Shawn Carter, and Sean Combs (Diddy) of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000.
Both men have denied the allegations, with Carter calling them “heinous in nature” and a “blackmail attempt.”
He has also sought to dismiss the suit, maintaining his innocence.
Judge Analisa Torres, in her 26th of December ruling, allowed the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, to remain anonymous, citing the “highly sensitive and extremely personal” nature of the case.
She noted that these factors “tip the favour of allowing Plaintiff to remain anonymous, at least for this stage of the litigation.”
The judge also criticized Jay-Z’s legal team for their aggressive approach, stating, “The relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client.”
Carter’s representatives have not commented on the ruling.
Jay-Z’s legal team has filed a lawsuit against Jane Doe’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, accusing him of extortion and defamation.
They alleged that Buzbee’s demand letter provided only two weeks for Carter to commit to a confidential mediation involving allegations of drugging and raping two minors.
Buzbee dismissed the counterclaims as “patently frivolous,” asserting, “This is just another attempt to bully and intimidate me. It just won’t work.”
In a separate legal action, Buzbee accused Jay-Z’s Roc Nation of using “shadowy operatives” to influence former clients to file false claims against him.
Roc Nation has denied the accusation, calling it “baloney” and “a pathetic attempt to distract and deflect attention” from the lawsuit.
Jane Doe, now 35, recently admitted to making “some mistakes” in her recollection of the alleged events during a video interview with NBC News.
Despite this, the lawsuit, filed under New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, seeks unspecified damages.
In response to the claims, Carter has maintained that the “incident didn’t happen” and accused Buzbee of pursuing the case for publicity. “True justice is coming,” Carter said. “We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory.”
Amid the legal turmoil, the NFL has reaffirmed its partnership with Jay-Z and Roc Nation.
A spokesperson confirmed that their “relationship’s not changing,” signaling continued support for the rapper despite the allegations.
The case remains ongoing, with both sides preparing for what promises to be a contentious legal battle.
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