Jay-Z discusses sexual assault lawsuit and says he felt “uncontrollable anger” over allegation
Jay-Z has opened up about being accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit in 2024.
The case, which alleged that the rapper and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sexually assaulted a woman, who used the Jane Doe pseudonym, at the MTV Video Music Awards afterparty when she was 13 years old in 2001, was dropped in early 2025.
After the case was dismissed, Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, subsequently sued the accuser directly in March 2025.
Now, for the first time since the allegation surfaced, Carter has publicly spoken about the subject in an interview.
When asked to reflect on his 2025, the Roc Nation founder admitted to GQ, “It was hard. Really hard. I was heartbroken. I’m glad we got right to that so we could just get that out the way. Like I was really heartbroken by everything that occurred. We’re in a space now where it’s almost like consequence is not thought about enough.”
After alluding to the lawsuit, Jay then directly mentioned the case, adding, “That whole [lawsuit thing], that shit took a lot out of me. 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. It used to be like that.”
Reflecting on his past “when we were doing the worst things”, the rapper maintained there was always strict behavioural rules in place that were never crossed, adding, “There was a line: no women, no kids. You hear those sayings, but those are the things that I took from the street. We lived and died by that.”
The music mogul went on to say that he took the case “really hard” but felt confident that his desired legal outcome would be achieved, stating, “The truth, at the end of the day, still reigns supreme.”
Looking to the future, he added, “We played enough defence. 2026 is all offence.”
In the same interview, he also explained why he chose against settling with the accuser, saying, “I can’t take a settlement – it ain’t in my DNA. First of all, first I had to tell my wife. Let’s back up. I know the weight that this is going to bring on our family. I can’t do it. I would die.”
However, Jay did share that it would have been the more financially savvy option, adding, “If I settled – make that thing go away. And for me, it would’ve been cheaper? Yes. Cheaper, quicker, move on with your life. I knew what was coming. I wasn’t naive.”
While the rap titan is “still dealing with” emotions in relation to the allegation, he recently announced his first headline concerts in several years. This summer, he will play two shows at the Yankees Stadium in New York and also headline Roots Picnic in Philadelphia.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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