Accuser retracts Jay-Z rape allegations and apologizes to rapper and family
The woman who previously claimed Jay-Z raped her as a teenager has withdrawn her accusations in a Manhattan federal court filing and issued an apology to the artist and his family.
A woman identified only as Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court on Thursday stating that she never met or spoke to Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and that her earlier claims of rape were false. She said the allegations caused "immense pain" to Carter and his family and offered an unconditional apology.
Doe’s attorney, J. Blair Newman, said his client "maintains that she was a victim of sexual assault" but was "entirely mistaken" in naming Jay-Z as one of the attackers. He reiterated that Carter did not engage in any inappropriate conduct toward Doe and that she sincerely apologizes to the rapper and his family.
The allegations, first made in a 2024 lawsuit that also named Sean "Diddy" Combs, were denied by Jay-Z, who described them as "heinous" and expressed concern for his wife Beyoncé and their children. He later called the case a "victory" after the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in February 2025. Following the dismissal, Doe reportedly told private investigators that Carter did not rape her and claimed her former attorney, Tony Buzbee, had pressured her to pursue the case.
Jay-Z has since filed a separate lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution, abuse of process and defamation against Doe and Buzbee. In her new filing, Doe said she was not coerced to recant and received no payment from Carter or his representatives. She explained that a 2024 Facebook advertisement seeking victims of assault against Combs prompted her to contact a law firm, leading to the lawsuit. Doe also noted that mental-health issues were disclosed to her attorneys but were not examined for potential impact on her recollection.
Earlier interviews had revealed inconsistencies in Doe’s account, including disputed interactions with musicians and an unverified travel claim by her father. While she continues to assert she was sexually assaulted as a minor, she now maintains that Jay-Z was not involved. Jay-Z’s legal team has moved to dismiss Doe as a defendant in the ongoing malicious-prosecution case, which remains pending.