A woman who accused rapper Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 years old has formally withdrawn her allegation, stating she has never met or spoken to him. The woman, who remained unnamed, initially filed a lawsuit in 2024 claiming that Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and music mogul Sean Combs, also known as P Diddy, had drugged and assaulted her at a party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Both Jay-Z and Combs denied the allegations, with Jay-Z calling the claims an attempt at blackmail.

The lawsuit was dropped by the accuser in 2025, and Jay-Z subsequently filed a countersuit against her and her legal representatives. In a recent declaration, the woman clarified that the accusations were false and expressed regret for the harm caused to Jay-Z, stating that there was no truth to her previous claims. She also denied ever receiving threats from Jay-Z or his representatives, contrasting with earlier statements from her former attorney Tony Buzbee, who alleged harassment and intimidation attempts by Jay-Z’s team.

Jay-Z’s legal team continues to pursue action against the woman’s former lawyers, arguing that they should have recognized the allegations as unfounded and inconsistent with available evidence. Buzbee and his co-counsel have described Jay-Z’s countersuit as a “malicious prosecution.” Following the woman's recantation, Buzbee suggested that her admission might reflect new developments, questioning the veracity of her prior statements to both legal counsel and the court.

The woman’s current lawyer, James Blair Newman Jr., said the client maintains she was a victim of sexual assault but acknowledged she had mistakenly identified Jay-Z as the perpetrator. She explained that her memories of assault were triggered after seeing a public call for victims of Sean Combs to come forward. Combs, distinct from these allegations, was convicted in October 2025 on charges related to the transportation of individuals for prostitution and sentenced to over four years in prison.

Jay-Z has previously spoken about the personal toll the allegations took on him and his family, noting the lasting trauma endured. The developments mark a significant turn in a case that generated widespread media attention and legal scrutiny over the past several years.