Prominent US rappers Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs have strongly denied allegations made in a lawsuit accusing them of drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl at a house party following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.

The accuser, who filed anonymously under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” alleges the assault occurred in the presence of an unnamed female celebrity. The lawsuit, initially filed in October, was refiled to include Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) as a defendant under New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.

Allegations and Legal Action

According to the lawsuit, the accuser attended the party, signed what she believes was a non-disclosure agreement, and observed drug use, including cocaine. After consuming a drink that made her feel unwell, she alleges she went to lie down in a room where Mr. Combs, Mr. Carter, and the unnamed celebrity later entered.

The lawsuit claims Mr. Carter and Mr. Combs sexually assaulted her while the celebrity observed. The plaintiff states she managed to escape after fighting back.

The legal filing also asserts that the accuser suffers from long-term trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, stemming from the alleged incident.

Jay-Z and Combs Respond

Jay-Z, in a social media statement, dismissed the allegations as a baseless extortion attempt. He criticized the plaintiff’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, accusing him of fabricating claims for financial gain.

“What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z stated. “It had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is already facing 30 lawsuits and criminal charges, denied the claims through his legal team. His representatives labeled the lawsuit a “shameless publicity stunt,” asserting that Mr. Combs is innocent and will be vindicated through the judicial process.

Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the accuser, has filed multiple lawsuits against Mr. Combs alleging assault and rape. The musician is scheduled for a criminal trial on May 5, 2025.

Both Jay-Z and Combs have expressed concerns about the impact of the allegations on their families. Jay-Z, who is married to Beyoncé, stated:
“My only heartbreak is for my family… I will have to sit my children down and explain the cruelty and greed of people.”

Debbie Nelson, the mother of rap icon Eminem, has died at the age of 69, her death confirmed by the rapper’s representative, Dennis Dennehy. Nelson was known to have battled lung cancer, though the official cause of her death remains unconfirmed.

Nelson and Eminem shared a turbulent relationship that deeply influenced the artist’s early music. Songs like Cleanin’ Out My Closet brought their struggles to the public eye, with Eminem accusing her of neglect and substance abuse. Their strained bond led to a highly publicized defamation lawsuit in 1999, stemming from lyrics in My Name Is. Nelson later revealed it was her lawyer’s idea, and the case was settled for $25,000.

Despite years of discord, signs of reconciliation emerged over time. In his 2013 song Headlights, Eminem expressed regret for his harsh lyrics, apologizing to his mother. While they remained mostly estranged, Nelson publicly supported her son during key moments, including his 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Nelson published her memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, sharing her perspective on their relationship and her heartbreak over his public accusations.

Eminem has yet to issue a statement regarding her passing, leaving fans reflecting on the complex bond between the two.

An oil painting by renowned New Zealand artist Charles Frederick Goldie has set a national record, selling for an unprecedented NZ$3.75 million ($2.2 million; £1.7 million) at auction. The piece, titled Thoughts of a Tohunga, portrays Wharekauri Tahuna, a Māori priest believed to be among the last of his generation to bear traditional facial moko tattoos.

This historic sale marks the highest price ever paid for a painting in New Zealand’s art market. It also solidifies Goldie’s standing as one of the nation’s most revered artists, particularly for his detailed portraits of Māori elders.

The painting, completed in 1938, depicts Tahuna adorned with a moko and wearing a traditional hei-tiki pendant. Art critics regard the piece as one of Goldie’s finest works. According to Richard Thomson, director at the International Art Centre, this was the first time in 33 years that the painting had been offered for sale.

This record-breaking sale comes amid heightened racial tensions in New Zealand. Recently, the government’s coalition partner, the Act Party, introduced a controversial bill to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding agreement between Māori and the Crown. Thousands marched in protest against the bill, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by the Māori community, including disparities in health, income, and education, as well as a seven-year gap in life expectancy compared to the general population.