Jay-Z Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Lawyer of Sexual Assault Accuser

The rapper alleges that attorney Tony Buzbee engaged in a campaign of false accusations and extortion attempts to damage his reputation.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has filed a defamation lawsuit against attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents a woman accusing the rapper of sexually assaulting her in 2000 when she was 13 years old.
Carter's legal team claims Buzbee attempted to extort him through a demand letter, threatening reputational harm unless a settlement was reached within two weeks.
The lawsuit accuses Buzbee of launching a public 'media crusade,' including making statements implying imminent criminal charges against Carter, which his lawyers argue constitutes defamation per se.
Buzbee, who represents over 120 alleged victims in separate cases, has denied the defamation claims, calling them 'frivolous' and an attempt to intimidate him.
The accuser, referred to as Jane Doe, has acknowledged inconsistencies in her account but continues to pursue a lawsuit under New York's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.