Jay-Z Says He and Beyoncé 'Will Have to Sit Our Children Down' as He Denies Child Rape Allegation

Jay-Z made rare comments about his wife Beyoncé and their three children after he was accused in a civil lawsuit in 2000 of raping a 13-year-old girl along with Sean “Diddy” Combs.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the rapper, 55, addressed the allegations related to a federal lawsuit originally filed in October that named Combs, also 55, as a defendant. It has now been modified to include Jay-Z.

In part of a denial statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Jay-Z said the “heinous” claims would affect his family, which includes daughter Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, 7.

“My only pain is for my family,” he said. “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at an 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.”

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, added: “I mourn another loss of virginity.”

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Jay-Z with daughter Blue Ivy in February 2024.

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

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In an amended civil complaint, the woman identified only as Jane Doe alleges she was assaulted after being driven to an after party for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

A woman claims she was raped by Combs and Jay-Z while the as-yet-unnamed celebrity looked on during a party at a New York City residence after the annual music event.

The unnamed Jane Doe is seeking unspecified damages, and her attorney, Tony Buzbee, previously announced he is representing more than 100 people who accuse Combs of misconduct.

Combs, who was recently denied bail for the third time and remains in federal prison in Brooklyn on charges of human trafficking and racketeering after his arrest in September, is scheduled to go on trial in May 2025.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Jay-Z in December 2019.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Combs’ attorneys denied the allegations made by Jane Doe in a statement to PEOPLE.

“This amended complaint and the recent extortion lawsuit against Mr. Buzbee is exposed by his pile of lawsuits against Mr. Combs for what they are: shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payoffs from celebrities who fear that lies will be spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs,” the statement read.

“As his legal team has previously stated, Mr. Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process,” the statement continued. “The truth will prevail in court: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone – male or female, adult or minor.”

A representative for Jay-Z did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Jay-Z, Blue Ivy and Beyoncé in January 2018.

Michele Crowe/CBS via Getty Images

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Elsewhere in his lengthy response to the report, Jay-Z said it was a “blackmail attempt” and spoke out against Buzbee.

“What he calculated was the nature of these allegations and that the public attention would make me want to settle. No, sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me expose you for a fraud that you are VERY public about. So no, I won’t give you NOT ONE RED PENNY!!” wrote the musician “Empire State of Mind” in the part of the lawyer.

“These allegations are of such a heinous nature that I am asking you to file criminal charges, not civil charges!! Whoever would commit such a crime against a minor should be jailed, don’t you agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case “, he continued.

“You’ve made a terrible mistake in your judgment thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same. I’m not from your world. I’m a young man who made it out of the Brooklyn Project. We don’t play those types of games they have very strict codes and protect children, it seems you’re taking advantage of people for personal gain,” Jay-Z added.

“Only your network of conspiracy theorists, bogus physicists, will believe the idiotic claims you have made against me that, were it not for the seriousness surrounding harm to children, would be laughable,” he concluded. “I look forward to showing you how different I am.”

Jane Doe Buzbee’s attorney told PEOPLE in a statement, “The plea speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be discussed in court.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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