Jay-Z Accuser Recants Sexual Assault Claims, Says Allegations Were False
A woman who previously accused Jay-Z of sexually assaulting her has formally withdrawn those claims, saying in a new court declaration that the allegations were false and that she had never met or spoken with the rapper.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the earlier civil lawsuit, made the statement in a declaration filed in federal court in New York on September 24, 2026. She said Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, never sexually assaulted her and that there was no truth to her claims against him.
The latest filing marks a major development in a legal dispute that began with allegations made in 2024.
Jay-Z Accuser Says She Never Met Him
In the new declaration, the woman directly withdrew her allegations against Carter.
She stated that she had never met or spoken with Jay-Z and that he had never engaged in inappropriate conduct toward her. She also acknowledged that her previous accusations had caused him significant personal and reputational harm.
The declaration was filed as part of the legal proceedings that followed the earlier lawsuit.
According to recent reports, the woman also said she had not been paid to make the new statement.
What Did the Original Jay-Z Lawsuit Allege?
The original civil lawsuit was filed in 2024 and initially named Sean “Diddy” Combs. Jay-Z was added as a defendant when the complaint was amended in December 2024.
The woman alleged that she was 13 when she was sexually assaulted at a party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. She alleged that Jay-Z and Combs were involved in the assault.
Both men denied the allegations.
The lawsuit became the subject of extensive public attention because of the seriousness of the claims and the high-profile names involved.
Jay-Z Had Previously Denied the Allegations
Jay-Z strongly rejected the accusations when they became public.
His legal team also challenged the allegations and questioned the circumstances surrounding the lawsuit. Carter later filed his own legal action against the woman and attorneys involved in the original case.
At the time, the allegations remained allegations and had not resulted in a criminal conviction against Carter.
The Original Lawsuit Was Dismissed in 2025
The woman voluntarily dismissed the civil lawsuit in February 2025.
The dismissal was made with prejudice, meaning the same claim could not simply be brought again by the plaintiff. ABC News and USA TODAY previously reported the dismissal based on court records.
Afterward, Jay-Z filed a separate lawsuit against the woman and attorneys connected to the original case.
The latest declaration is connected to those subsequent legal proceedings. Recent reporting says Carter has since dropped the woman as a defendant while continuing legal action involving her former attorneys.
Jay-Z Previously Discussed the Impact of the Case
Earlier in 2026, Jay-Z spoke publicly about the lawsuit during an interview with GQ.
He described the experience as extremely difficult and said the case had left him heartbroken and angry. He also discussed why he chose to fight the allegations rather than settle the matter.
His comments came more than a year after the original civil case had been dismissed.
The rapper has continued to maintain that the allegations against him were false.
What Happens Next?
The latest declaration changes the legal landscape surrounding the allegations against Jay-Z.
However, the recantation itself does not erase the history of the civil litigation. The original lawsuit was already dismissed in 2025, while subsequent legal proceedings involving Carter and the attorneys connected to the case have continued.
The latest court filing provides the woman’s current account of the allegations. It should be distinguished from the claims she made in the original lawsuit and from allegations made by either side during the later legal proceedings.
As of the latest reports, the legal dispute involving Carter and the attorneys connected to the original complaint remains an important part of the case’s history.