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Jay-Z says lawsuit accusing him of raping a child at awards after-party is part of an extortion ploy

NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Jay-Z says a rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt.
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FILE - Musician Jay-Z stands on the field before an NFL football game between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys, on Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 says a rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt.

A woman who previously sued , alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault.

The 24-time Grammy award winning rapper, producer and music mogul called the allegations 鈥渋diotic鈥 and 鈥渉einous in nature" in released by Roc Nation, one of his companies.

He also revealed that he had anonymously sued the woman's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, last month, alleging he was trying to blackmail the rapper by threatening to make the rape allegation public if he didn't agree to a legal settlement. He said Buzbee sent a letter to his lawyer appearing to seek a settlement, but that the letter had the 鈥渙pposite effect" on him.

鈥淚t made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion,鈥 Jay-Z's statement read. 鈥淪o no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!鈥

The litigation is part of a wave of levied against Combs as the hip-hop mogul remains in custody in New York awaiting trial .

The unnamed woman says she was hanging around Radio City Music Hall during the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and managed to talk a limousine driver into bringing her to a celebrity-studded party at a private residence after the event.

She said that while she was in the limousine, she was asked to sign a nondisclosure document. Once at the party, the lawsuit said, she took a drink that made her feel 鈥渨oozy and lightheaded鈥 and went into a bedroom to lie down.

She said that Combs and Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, then barged into the room along with another unnamed celebrity and raped her. The woman said she eventually escaped the room, fled the house and called for a ride from a nearby gas station.

Buzbee, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, said the notion that he was trying to blackmail Jay-Z is 鈥渟tupid and laughable,鈥 and that his letter simply sought confidential mediation in the litigation.

鈥淲hat he fails to say in his recent statement is that my firm sent his lawyer a basic demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him,鈥 he said in an emailed statement. 鈥淪ince I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I鈥檓 very proud of her resolve.鈥

Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, filed court paperwork Monday asking a judge to require his accuser, who is only identified as Jane Doe, to reveal her identity if she wants to continue the lawsuit. Spiro said the woman hasn鈥檛 provided any evidence to justify her anonymity and that her 鈥渧ague assertions of potential harm fall far short of the stringent requirements鈥 under the law.

Spiro asked for an urgent hearing on the matter.

鈥淢r. Carter deserves to know the identity of the person who is effectively accusing him 鈥 in sensationalized, publicity-hunting fashion 鈥 of criminal conduct, demanding massive financial compensation, and tarnishing a reputation earned over decades,鈥 Spiro wrote. 鈥淗e has never been accused of, let alone engaged in, any sexual misconduct.鈥

Buzbee announced at a news conference in October that he represents 鈥 both men and women 鈥 with allegations of sexual misconduct against Combs.

His firm, which has set up a 1-800 number for accusers, a wave of suits against the hip-hop mogul a few weeks later.

Jay-Z, in his statement, challenged Buzbee to seek criminal charges and said his 鈥渉eart and support goes out to true victims in the world.鈥

He also lamented that he and wife Beyonc茅 will likely have to address the claims with their three children and 鈥渆xplain the cruelty and greed of people.鈥

鈥淚 mourn yet another loss of innocence,鈥 Jay-Z wrote.

Combs' lawyers, in a statement, also dismissed Buzbee鈥檚 lawsuits as 鈥渟hameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.鈥

Combs was a third time last month. He鈥檚 pleaded not guilty to for years and faces trial in May.

Jay-Z and Combs are part of a generation of hip-hop titans who rose to prominence in the 2000s, emerging as wide-ranging entrepreneurs and two of the world鈥檚 wealthiest rappers. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated Jay-Z鈥檚 net worth to be $2.5 billion.

The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z being featured on Combs' debut album, 鈥淣o Way Out鈥 and Combs appearing on Jay-Z鈥檚 sophomore album, 鈥淚n My Lifetime, Vol. 1.鈥

While the pair has been frequently photographed together at events, they've also been competitors. Diddy launched his Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z launched his Roc-A-Fella record label.

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AP Music Writer Maria Sherman in New York contributed to this story.

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Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press