Jay-Z has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman identified as Jane Doe, along with her attorneys, Tony Buzbee and David Fortney, over allegations she made in late 2024 accusing him and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 years old. The lawsuit, filed in March 2025, claims that the allegations are false and were made with malicious intent to harm his reputation.
In November 2024, Jane Doe filed a lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Diddy of assaulting her at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The allegations surfaced amid broader scrutiny of Diddy, who has faced multiple lawsuits in recent months. Jay-Z, however, has strongly denied the claims, and in his defamation suit, he asserts that Jane Doe admitted to his representatives that her allegations were fabricated. His lawsuit further accuses her legal team of knowingly pushing false claims for financial gain.
The lawsuit contends that Jane Doe’s accusations were intended to damage Jay-Z’s reputation and were made without evidence. His legal team argues that she and her attorneys acted with “actual malice,” a legal standard requiring proof that false statements were made either knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth. Jay-Z is seeking a full retraction of the allegations and legal relief to prevent further damage to his name.
Jane Doe’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, has denied Jay-Z’s claims and maintains that his client stands by her allegations. Buzbee also alleges that Jay-Z’s legal action is an attempt to intimidate Jane Doe and discredit her accusations.
With both sides standing firm, this legal battle is expected to unfold in court. Jay-Z’s defamation case could set a precedent for how high-profile figures respond to serious allegations, while the outcome may impact ongoing conversations around defamation, false accusations, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
This lawsuit is just one of the many legal and business matters Jay-Z has been involved in recently. Over the past year, he has continued expanding his empire. In early 2025, he was in talks to make another major investment through his company, Roc Nation. The entertainment and sports agency has grown rapidly, striking deals across music, film, and professional sports. Recently, Roc Nation Sports helped facilitate a lucrative contract for top NFL prospect Marvin Harrison Jr., reinforcing Jay-Z’s influence in the sports world.
In addition, Jay-Z and his longtime business partner Emory Jones recently announced a new investment into the cannabis industry through Monogram, a luxury cannabis brand. The brand has been positioning itself as a leader in the growing market, further diversifying Jay-Z’s business portfolio.
Despite the legal troubles, Jay-Z’s influence in hip-hop remains unparalleled. In 2024, he was honored with a Global Impact Award at the Grammy Awards, recognizing his contributions to music and philanthropy. During his acceptance speech, he called for better recognition of hip-hop artists at award shows, highlighting the ongoing conversation about rap’s place in mainstream institutions.
His impact also extends into social justice. Jay-Z has been actively working to change policies affecting probation and parole through the Reform Alliance, a criminal justice reform organization he co-founded. The organization has successfully advocated for legislative changes in multiple states, reducing incarceration rates for non-violent offenders.
