Brief
Jay‑Z Seeks Appeal Court Review After Accuser’s Retraction
The rapper cites the accuser’s retraction as new evidence to reopen his lawsuit against lawyer Tony Buzbee.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Jay‑Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, has filed a petition for rehearing with a California appeals court, arguing that the accuser’s recent sworn declaration in Alabama constitutes “explosive new evidence” that should allow his extortion and defamation claims against lawyer Tony Buzbee to proceed. The accuser, identified only as Jane Doe, had previously dropped a rape lawsuit against the rapper in February 2025, a move the court said was to protect her from harassment. In her new declaration, Doe says the sexual assault allegations were false, that she never met Carter, and that she had disclosed mental‑health conditions to a lawyer before Buzbee’s firm named the rapper in a lawsuit filed in December 2024. She also states that she has “no truth to any of my claims against Mr. Carter” and that her false accusations have caused him immense pain and damage. Jay‑Z claims the court relied heavily on the fact that Doe dropped the rape case, and argues that her new declaration shows a different story, potentially allowing the lower court’s dismissal to be reconsidered.
Key facts
- Jay‑Z filed a petition for rehearing in a California appeals court (rollingstone.com)
- The accuser, Jane Doe, recanted her rape allegations in a sworn declaration (rollingstone.com)
- Doe says she never met Jay‑Z and that her allegations were false (rollingstone.com)
- The accuser dropped the rape lawsuit in February 2025 (rollingstone.com)
- Jay‑Z’s lawsuit is against lawyer Tony Buzbee and his Texas‑based firm (rollingstone.com)
Sources
- [1] rollingstone.com — originally reported as “Jay-Z Asks Appeals Court to Revive Extortion Case After Rape Accuser Recants”
