A woman who accused rappers and of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 at an awards show after-party has acknowledged certain inconsistencies in her story, while her lawyer said he will continue to vet her claims.
The unnamed woman described being driven from Rochester, New York, to New York City for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000 and then Combs鈥� limo driver offering her a ride to an after-party, NBC News reported on Friday. She claimed she spoke with musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party, and her father picked her up after the alleged assault.
But a representative of the Maddens confirmed to NBC that they were on tour in the Midwest during the VMAs, while her father said he doesn鈥檛 remember the drive home of more than five hours. The woman鈥檚 friend who reportedly drove her to the awards has since died, NBC reported.
The woman had first sued Combs, alleging she was raped at an after-party, and then amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, also was at the party and participated in the sexual assault.
Jay-Z said in a statement that the article proves Tony Buzbee, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, filed a false complaint against him for money and fame.
鈥淭his incident didn鈥檛 happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press,鈥� he said. 鈥淭rue Justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began. This 1-800 lawyer doesn鈥檛 realize it yet, but, soon.鈥�
Buzbee told The Associated in an email that if someone raises a new issue which didn鈥檛 previously exist, his legal team's job is to continue collecting facts and evidence.
Jay-Z鈥檚 attorney, Alex Spiro, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying in a statement, 鈥淚t is stunning that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting, but would make things worse by further peddling this false story in the press.鈥�
The woman admitted to making 鈥渟ome mistakes鈥� when recalling that night, but said she stands by her allegations.
Combs鈥� attorney, Teny R. Geragos, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Saturday: 鈥淵esterday, a lawyer admitted that over 50 people falsely claimed to be victims. Today, for the second time this week, a Buzbee plaintiff has been exposed. This is the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab.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 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 Combs and Jay-Z 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.
Jay-Z, a 24-time Grammy award winning rapper, producer and music mogul, anonymously sued Buzbee last month, alleging he was attempting to blackmail the rapper by threatening to make the rape allegation public if he did not agree to a legal settlement. Jay-Z said Buzbee sent a letter to his lawyer appearing to seek a settlement, which had the 鈥渙pposite effect鈥� on him.
Buzbee previously said the notion that he was trying to blackmail Jay-Z is 鈥渟tupid and laughable鈥� and his letter simply sought confidential mediation in the litigation.
Buzbee announced at a news conference in October that he represents , men and women, with allegations of sexual misconduct against Combs.
His firm, which has set up a toll-free phone line for accusers, a wave of lawsuits against the hip-hop mogul a few weeks later.
Combs was a third time last month. He has pleaded not guilty to for years and faces trial in May.
Lawyers for Combs did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
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 featured on Combs鈥� 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 frequently photographed together at events, they also have been business competitors. Diddy launched his Bad Boy Records around the same time Jay-Z launched his Roc-A-Fella record label.
Hallie Golden, The Associated Press
