Attorneys representing renowned rapper Jay-Z have formally requested the dismissal of a rape lawsuit filed against him.
This move comes in the wake of a recent television interview where the accuser admitted to inconsistencies in her allegations.
The lawsuit, which also names fellow music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, was filed in Manhattan federal court.
The accuser claims that she was sexually assaulted by the two artists in 2000 after being offered a ride to an MTV Video Music Awards after-party by Combs' limo driver. However, during an NBC interview aired last Friday, the woman mentioned interactions with musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party, and stated that her father picked her up afterward.
Notably, representatives for the Maddens have refuted her account, stating they were touring the Midwest at the time, and her father has no recollection of the alleged drive home.
Jay-Z's legal team, led by attorney Alex Spiro, has argued that the lawsuit is baseless and has caused "incalculable harm" to Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. Spiro remarked, "It is stunning that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting but would make things worse by further peddling this false story in the press."
Tony Buzbee, the Houston-based personal injury lawyer representing the accuser, has been criticized for what Jay-Z's team describes as a "shameful money grab."
Buzbee, who represents over 120 individuals with allegations against Combs, has yet to respond to the latest filing but indicated plans to address it in court.
Combs, currently held without bail on separate federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Teny R. Geragos, echoed sentiments of the case being a "money grab," suggesting the interview marks "the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab."
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