Jay-Z's Accuser Recants Rape Claim, Apologizes to Beyonce
An Alabama woman has withdrawn her lawsuit alleging sexual assault by the rapper when she was 13, stating there was 'no truth' to the accusation and apologizing to Jay-Z and his family.
The Alabama woman who accused Jay-Z of rape when she was 13 has officially recanted her claims, stating there is "no truth" to the allegation and offering a public apology to the rapper and his wife, Beyonce.
In court documents filed this Thursday, the woman, identified as Jane Doe, asserted she had "never met or spoken to" Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter. She stated she was recanting her allegations voluntarily and without any payment from Carter or his representatives. Her current attorney, J. Blair Newman, confirmed in a statement that while their client maintains she was a victim of sexual assault, she was "entirely mistaken in her allegations identifying Mr. Carter," and that those allegations were false.
"Mr. Carter did not rape her, sexually assault her, engage in any inappropriate conduct toward her, and she has never met him," Newman said. "She sincerely and unconditionally apologizes to Mr. Carter and his family."
The accuser initially filed a lawsuit in New York in October 2024, alleging she was assaulted by Carter and Sean "Diddy" Combs at an afterparty for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Her case was dismissed in February 2025 by her then-attorney, Tony Buzbee, who has represented several of Combs' accusers. Carter subsequently countersued Buzbee, his Texas law firm, and Doe herself.
According to Doe's latest filing, she was seeking individuals with sexual assault claims against Combs after seeing a Facebook advertisement in September or October 2024. This led her to the AVA Law Group, and subsequently the Buzbee Law Firm. Doe stated she was unaware of Buzbee when he filed the suit on her behalf and did not see a draft of the complaint before it was submitted. She also indicated that she began having doubts about her claims against Carter, and even about attending a party with celebrities, by January 2025.
Buzbee, in response to Doe's recantation, questioned her new narrative, stating that video evidence and multiple affidavits signed by Doe confirm her original allegations were true. He suggested her current story is not supported by her prior statements and raised the question of why her account has changed.
Following the dismissal of Doe's lawsuit, Carter publicly celebrated his "victory" over what he called "frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations." He stated at the time that the "trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed."
Jay-Z and Beyonce have been married since 2008 and have three children. IMAGE1: Carter has been married to Beyonce since 2008 and the couple have since welcomed three children - Blue Ivy, 14, and twins Sir and Rumi, nine; the couple are pictured in 2024
IMAGE2: Doe's current attorney said in a statement that she 'sincerely and unconditionally apologizes to Mr Carter and his family'; Jay-Z and Beyonce are pictured at teh 2026 Met Gala
IMAGE3: The accuser first filed suit in New York as Jane Doe in October 2024, claiming she was violated by Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs; Combs and Jay-Z are pictured in 2020
IMAGE4: The Alabama woman who accused Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 has officially recanted, saying there was 'no truth' to the allegation
In the wake of Doe's recantation, Carter has reportedly withdrawn his complaint against her but is said to be pursuing legal action against Buzbee. Buzbee has alleged that Carter obtained Doe's recantation by agreeing to dismiss her from his countersuit and has accused Carter of relying on testimony from a witness whom he and his counsel had previously called unreliable.
Meanwhile, Sean "Diddy" Combs was acquitted last July of sex trafficking and racketeering charges but was found guilty on two lesser charges. His release date from prison has been moved to February 5, 2028.