Rapper and business mogul Jay-Z is pushing back against attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents an Alabama woman accusing him of sexual assault in a case that dates back more than 24 years. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, alleges that Jay-Z, 55, and fellow music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, 55, assaulted her at an MTV Music Awards afterparty in September 2000. Both artists have denied the allegations.
According to the Daily Mail, Jay-Z’s legal team, led by attorney Alex Spiro, has filed a motion requesting the court to sanction Buzbee, arguing that the attorney failed to personally meet with the woman before filing the lawsuit. Meanwhile, TMZ reported Wednesday that court documents reveal Buzbee allegedly admitted to this oversight, which Jay-Z’s legal team claims constitutes a serious ethical violation.
Buzbee, however, is rejecting the accusations, calling them “utterly frivolous and meritless.” He previously told the outlet that he and four other attorneys had, in fact, interviewed the plaintiff before proceeding with the lawsuit. Adding to Jay-Z’s defense, his legal team has pointed to a December 2023 interview with NBC News in which Jane Doe reportedly acknowledged inconsistencies in her claims.
They argue that these inconsistencies further justify dismissing the case. Buzbee, whose law firm represents over 150 individuals accusing Combs of misconduct, remains firm in his stance, stating, “The rules apply equally to everyone, even those who wrongly think they are above the law.”
The lawsuit has gained further attention as Combs faces federal sex trafficking charges, which he has vehemently denied. His legal team has labeled Buzbee’s lawsuits as “shameless publicity stunts.”
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Jay-Z—whose net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion—continues to refute all accusations as the case unfolds. The court’s next steps could determine the viability of the lawsuit and whether Buzbee’s actions will come under further scrutiny.