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In a sharp legal turn, the woman who accused Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter of raping her in 2000 has filed a motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit he launched against her. The filing comes just two months after she voluntarily withdrew her original complaint that had named both Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs in the alleged assault.
The woman, known as Jane Doe, initially made the claims in December 2024, alleging that the assault occurred at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty when she was 13. The case quickly drew national attention, prompting Jay-Z to file a counter-lawsuit in March 2025. His legal team, led by attorney Alex Spiro, accused Doe and her attorneys—Tony Buzbee and David Fortney—of malicious prosecution, civil conspiracy, abuse of process, and defamation.
On April 22, Doe responded by filing to dismiss the suit. Her motion argues that Jay-Z "fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted" and that his allegations don’t meet the legal threshold for defamation or conspiracy. "Carter has not alleged facts that would support an abuse of process claim," her attorneys wrote, also asserting that statements made in legal proceedings or court documents are "absolutely privileged" under California law.
Further undermining the conspiracy claims, the motion notes, “Since a conspiracy requires more than one party, Doe cannot be liable for civil conspiracy.” The legal team also emphasized that her media comments were rooted in claims from official filings, and thus, shielded from defamation liability.
Jay-Z’s complaint stated that the allegations were “knowingly false” and “strategically calculated” to damage his reputation and extort him. He claimed over $20 million in losses to his business, Roc Nation, along with reputational harm and emotional distress.
A crucial point in the case hinges on a recording cited by Spiro, allegedly featuring Doe stating, “Mr. Carter did not do this,” and accusing Buzbee of pressuring her to include Jay-Z in the original complaint. “The truth had to fully come out,” Spiro said on Good Morning America, calling the suit “a lie from the start.” Buzbee has publicly refuted this, calling the accusation “a blatant lie.”
Doe’s motion seeks dismissal with prejudice, preventing any refile. As the legal battle unfolds, the case continues to blur the line between public reckoning and legal consequence, raising pressing questions about justice, accountability, and the weaponization of lawsuits in high-profile conflicts.