Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has disclosed disturbing threats made against him and his wife Beyoncé in the wake of a recently dismissed rape allegation. The rapper is now taking legal action against attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented the accuser in the case.
The original lawsuit, which was voluntarily dismissed, had accused Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs of assaulting a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards party in 2000. After the case was dropped, Jay-Z filed his own lawsuit, claiming the allegations were malicious and caused substantial harm.
In court documents, the rapper detailed the severe harassment he and his family endured. "People have said 'I can't wait until you join (Combs) in prison. Then later in hell,'" Jay-Z stated in his complaint. He also revealed that online commenters labeled him a "satanist," "trafficker," "terrorist," and "monster," with some threatening to "kill" or "execute" both him and Beyoncé.
The timing of the original lawsuit appeared calculated, according to Jay-Z, as it was filed just before the London premiere of "Mufasa: The Lion King," which featured his daughter Blue Ivy. "I feel that Mr. Buzbee purposely filed this lawsuit on the eve of my daughter's premiere to put me in the position of having to choose between supporting my daughter or hiding to avoid the negative press coverage," the rapper stated.
The case has now been dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, celebrated the outcome, noting that his client "never settled, never paid one red penny, and triumphed in clearing his name."
In a statement released through Roc Nation, Jay-Z addressed the ordeal's impact on his family: "The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed." He emphasized the importance of protecting both victims and those falsely accused, calling for truth to prevail in all cases.