'Beyonc? Husband' Jay-Z Cleared of Underage Sexual Assault Allegation

Plaintiff Withdraws Last Year's Lawsuit
Jay-Z Says "Their Fabricated Stories Were Laughable"

A woman who claimed to have been sexually assaulted in the past by Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter), a famous American rapper and music industry mogul known as the "Godfather of Hip-Hop," has recently withdrawn her lawsuit.

On the 15th (local time), AP News and CNN reported that the woman recently withdrew the lawsuit she filed last December. Previously, the woman had filed a civil lawsuit in a New York court, alleging that she was sexually assaulted in 2000 when she was 13 years old by Jay-Z and another hip-hop mogul, Sean Diddy Combs (stage name "Puff Daddy"). Initially, the lawsuit was filed in October last year against Combs, claiming sexual assault, drug-facilitated sexual acts, and sexual abuse of a minor, but Jay-Z was later added as a defendant. The woman claimed she was sexually assaulted at a party held after the MTV Video Music Awards, stating, "I drank a drink given at the party, felt like vomiting and dizzy, went into a room, and then Jay-Z and Combs came in and sexually assaulted me."

Hip-hop godfather and music industry mogul Jay-Z. Photo by AP Yonhap News

After being sued, Jay-Z strongly denied the allegations. He said, "These allegations are so heinous that I urge that a criminal case be filed instead of a civil one," adding, "Doesn't everyone agree that anyone who commits such a crime against a minor should go to jail?"

According to court records, Tony Buzzbee, the woman's attorney, submitted documents to the court the day before withdrawing the lawsuit against Jay-Z and Combs. However, the reason for withdrawing the lawsuit was not disclosed. Attorney Buzzbee also refused to respond to media requests for clarification. After the lawsuit was withdrawn, Jay-Z posted a statement on the website of his hip-hop label 'Roc Nation,' saying, "Today is a day of victory," and added, "The fabricated stories they made up were laughable if not for the seriousness of the allegations." He further stated, "The trauma endured by my wife, children, loved ones, and myself will never disappear." Jay-Z's wife is the famous pop star Beyonc?.

Meanwhile, Combs was arrested on charges including prostitution and extortion and was indicted in September last year, after which he was detained at the Brooklyn Federal Detention Center in New York. Since then, Combs has faced about 40 civil lawsuits from women claiming to have been sexually assaulted by him.