
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Rymir Satterthwaite, the man who for over a decade has claimed that Jay‑Z is his biological father, has officially withdrawn his federal paternity lawsuit. According to court filings obtained and reported by HotNewHipHop, Satterthwaite filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to voluntarily dismiss the case, a move that does not necessarily block future legal action if it was filed without prejudice.
For years, Satterthwaite and his late mother, Wanda, maintained that Jay‑Z had a relationship in 1992, when Wanda was reportedly 16 and Shawn Carter was around 22. The initial effort began in 2010, with Wanda requesting paternity testing. Though another individual, Robert Graves, was DNA‑tested and ruled out, Jay‑Z never agreed to submit a sample. Multiple lawsuits ensued, all eventually dismissed due to lack of evidence or jurisdictional challenges. Jay‑Z has consistently denied the allegations and via court filings, condemned the claims as part of a “decades‑long campaign of harassment.”
Despite the filing being dropped, Satterthwaite has made clear he has not abandoned the fight. In a statement reported by Hollywood Unlocked, he explained that the withdrawal of the fraud portion of his larger legal effort was strategic, not due to any settlement or DNA test. “They’re using bully tactics, so we’re playing chess, not checkers,” he said, emphasizing that he intends to refile and continue pushing for accountability and truth.
Satterthwaite has repeatedly stated that his goal is not financial gain. In earlier interviews, he expressed respect for Jay‑Z and insisted he just wants closure. He told the media that he could handle a denial but cannot accept silence, pressing the rapper to prove his denial in court. He has reiterated that he will continue the legal pursuit “until the end”—whether it takes ten years or fifty. With the case again dropped, speculation swirls over whether Satterthwaite will formally refile or take another route to force a paternity determination.