Jay-Z admits he had ‘uncontrollable anger’ over child rape claims

Jay-Z reveals how ‘hard’ it was after being accused of assaulting a child (Picture: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

Jay-Z has revealed he was ‘heartbroken’ when he was accused of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, with the charges later dropped.

In a lawsuit filed in 2024, the rapper – real name Shawn Carter – was accused of assaulting the unnamed girl at a VMAs after-party in 2000, along with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

Jay-Z denied the allegations, and an audio recording of the Jane Doe’s police interview was later released, revealing she said he did not sexually assault her.

The assault charges were dropped, and his defamation case against her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, was later dismissed by a New York judge.

‘It was hard. Really hard. I was heartbroken,’ Jay-Z said in a new interview with GQ. ‘We’re in a space now where it’s almost like consequence is not thought about enough because everything is so instant.’

The rap icon said he was glad to address the situation immediately in the interview, admitting it ‘took a lot out’ of him.

He spoke out in a new cover interview with GQ (Picture: Rashid Johnson/GQ) ‘I haven’t been that angry in a long time’ (Picture: Rashid Johnson/GQ)

Jay-Z continued: ‘I was angry. I haven’t been that angry in a long time, uncontrollable anger. You don’t put that on someone—that’s a thing that you better be super sure…

‘I took that really hard. I knew that we were going to walk through that because, first of all, it’s not true. And the truth, at the end of the day, still reigns supreme.’

At the time, Jay-Z called the alleged crime ‘heinous’ and said he ‘implored’ the Jane Doe to file a criminal case, not a civil one.

‘My only heartbreak is for my family,’ he said at the time. ‘My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence.’

The accuser said she was ‘pushed’ to name him (Picture: Rashid Johnson/GQ)

He was named alongside Sean Combs, who still has several civil cases pending and was also charged under federal laws around racketeering, prostitution and sex trafficking.

After a highly publicised trial, the jury convicted the former producer of two lesser counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted him of the racketeering and trafficking charges.

Soon after her accusation, the Jane Doe admitted to inconsistencies in her story, telling NBC News she had ‘made some mistakes’ as it was 24 years ago.

In audio obtained by ABC News, the woman appeared to be heard during an interview with two private investigators, where she detailed her allegations.

The case was dismissed, as was his defamation case against the lawyer (Picture: Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

A male official clarified the alleged assault, questioning: ‘But Jay-Z, you’re saying he was definitely there? But he had no part in it? Or he was just…’

‘He was there,’ Doe interjected before a female investigator then asked: ‘He was just there, but he didn’t have anything to do with any sexual acts towards you, it was strictly…’

‘Yeah,’ she simply replied on the recording, before accusing her lawyer, Buzbee, of ‘pushing’ her into naming Jay-Z after only initially naming Combs.

He shared a lengthy statement denying the allegations made against him, with his lawyer, Alex Spiro, affirming Jay-Z has ‘never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone –man or woman, adult or minor.’

The full interview with Jay-Z is available now on GQ.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Comments Add as preferred source