The woman suing Jay-Z and Diddy over an alleged sexual assault at a 2000 VMAs afterparty pleaded with the court to keep her name a secret, In Touch can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch, the now-adult woman, who claims the incident happened when she was 13, asked that she be allowed to proceed with the case using the pseudonym, Jane Doe.
Her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, argued, “Plaintiff was a minor at the time of the occurrence, just 13 years old. Because of the egregious nature of what happened, Plaintiff filed this lawsuit under the pseudonym of Jane Doe.”
He continued, “There is no prejudice to [Diddy], [Jay-Z] or any other Defendant if Plaintiff is permitted to pursue her claims as Jane Doe, and if required by this Court, counsel for Plaintiff will confidentially disclose her name to counsel for Defendants.”
The accuser’s lawyer added, “Plaintiff’s identification poses a risk of both physical and mental harm.”
He said, “The filing of this lawsuit has garnered significant attention in the press, and if Plaintiff’s identity is revealed to the public, there is little doubt that she would be inundated with unwanted attention from the media that would cause her extreme psychological distress.”
He continued, “Plaintiff would certainly experience further significant harm if she is forced to reveal her identity to the public.” The lawyer said Jay-Z, 55, and Diddy, 55, would have access to the woman’s name, but he did not want the public to know it. The accuser originally filed her lawsuit in October against Diddy and other unnamed defendants.
Jane filed an amended lawsuit on Sunday, December 10, which named Jay-Z as one of the defendants. The music mogul quickly issued a harsh denial to the claims in a statement he published on social media.
He wrote, “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle.”
Jay-Z continued, “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”
The mogul said, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.” “This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics!” Jay-Z wrote.
He added, “My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age 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.”
Diddy previously denied the allegations made in the lawsuit. Jay-Z and Diddy have yet to respond to Jane’s request to keep her name hidden.
Buzbee responded to Jay’s statement and referenced a lawsuit filed against him last month by an anonymous celebrity.
He said, “[Jay-z] previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm. He even filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him.”
Tony continued, “Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation. Since I sent the letter on her behalf, [Jay-Z] has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve.”
