Woman Recants Jay-Z Rape Allegation, Says She Never Met Him
Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, September 24, 2026, recanting her 2024 sexual-assault claims against Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.[1] She wrote that the allegations were false and that she had never met or spoken to Carter.[1] She has been dismissed as a defendant from Carter's February 2025 malicious-prosecution and defamation lawsuit.[1]
In the filing, she said her 2024 allegations were filed by her attorneys without any independent investigation.[1] CBS News also reported that she formally recanted her claims.[2]
The original 2024 civil suit alleged Carter and Sean "Diddy" Combs drugged and raped her in 2000 when she was 13.[1] She dropped that civil suit several months later.[1] Jay-Z filed his malicious-prosecution and defamation complaint in February 2025.[1]
The recantation filing emerged as Carter marks the 30th anniversary of his album Reasonable Doubt with concerts at Yankee Stadium and an HBO docuseries.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court saying all of her original claims against Jay-Z were false.
- The declaration says that, to her knowledge, the 2024 civil allegations were filed by her attorneys without any independent investigation and that she has never met or spoken to Jay-Z.
- Jane Doe has been dismissed as a defendant from Jay-Z's February 2025 malicious-prosecution and defamation lawsuit.
- The original 2024 suit alleged Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs drugged and raped her in 2000 when she was 13; she dropped that civil suit several months later.
- Reasonable Doubt is being marked on its 30th anniversary by Jay-Z with Yankee Stadium concerts and an HBO docuseries.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- NPR reports that on Thursday, September 24, 2026, the woman known as Jane Doe filed a declaration in Manhattan federal court stating that all of her original claims against Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter were false.
- The declaration says that, to her knowledge, the 2024 civil allegations were filed by her attorneys without any independent investigation and that she has never met or spoken to Carter.
- NPR notes that Jane Doe has now been dismissed as a defendant from Carter's February 2025 malicious-prosecution and defamation lawsuit.
- The article reiterates that the original 2024 suit alleged Carter and Sean "Diddy" Combs drugged and raped her in 2000 when she was 13, and that she dropped that civil suit several months later.
- NPR adds broader context that Carter is currently marking the 30th anniversary of his debut album "Reasonable Doubt" with Yankee Stadium concerts and an HBO docuseries.