Jay-Z has forcefully refuted allegations of sexual assault leveled against him in a recently amended lawsuit, calling it a “blackmail attempt” and vowing to fight back publicly. The lawsuit, initially filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, was expanded to include the rapper and businessman, who has denied any wrongdoing and labeled the claims as baseless.

The accusations date back to 2000, with the alleged victim claiming the assault occurred when she was a minor. Jay-Z, however, has categorically rejected the allegations, addressing them in a fiery statement shared through Roc Nation’s social media channels.

“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee,” the statement began. “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. 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!”

Jay-Z went on to challenge the legal approach being taken, urging the alleged victim and her lawyer to file criminal charges if the claims were legitimate. “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?”

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The rapper also criticized Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the accuser, suggesting a pattern of “theatrics” in his legal tactics. In the statement, Jay-Z questioned Buzbee’s integrity and accused him of exploiting sensitive allegations for personal gain.

“My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit,” he wrote.

Jay-Z expressed his disappointment over the personal toll the lawsuit has taken on his family, highlighting the difficulty of explaining the situation to his children. He lamented the harm caused by “the cruelty and greed of people” and vowed to stand firm against what he sees as an unjust attack.

“I’m a young man who made it out of the projects of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children; you seem to exploit people for personal gain,” Jay-Z concluded.

The lawsuit has sparked widespread debate on social media, with some expressing support for Jay-Z’s defiance, while others emphasize the importance of investigating such serious allegations thoroughly. As the legal battle unfolds, Jay-Z has made it clear he intends to fight the claims head-on, publicly and decisively