Billionaire hip-hop artist Jay-Z under fire for insensitive reaction to Diddy rape allegations

Jay-Z faces mounting criticism after he released a scathing statement in response to allegations that he and Sean ‘Diddy ‘ Combs raped a woman when she was 13-years-old in 2000. 

In the latest episode of DailyMail.com’s podcast, ‘The Trial of Diddy’, attorney Lisa Bloom said the ’99 Problems’ rapper – whose real name is Shawn Carter – turned the case into a ‘sideshow’ when he decided to go after Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the alleged victim.

‘Let’s keep in mind that Jay-Z is a billionaire who I’m sure has the high-priced lawyers, publicists and crisis management team,’ said Bloom.

‘I think it’s a sideshow strategy to go after the lawyer and not the woman accusing him.’

Jay-Z called Buzbee an ‘ambulance chaser in a cheap suit’ who attempted to extort and blackmail him.

The suit against the two rap moguls is part of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits levied against Combs while he remains in custody at a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. 

In the December 8 statement, Jay-Z said: ‘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? 

‘These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.’

He continued, ‘This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics! 

‘I have no idea how you have come to be such a deplorable human Mr. Buzbee, but I promise you I have seen your kind many times over. 

‘I’m more than prepared to deal with your type.’

Jay-Z’s statement was released after he initially filed a complaint anonymously against Buzbee. 

The accuser, who identifies herself as Jane Doe in the legal documents reviewed by DailyMail.com, says the assault took place at a party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

The lawsuit had initially been filed in New York’s Southern District this past October against Combs, with a refiling on Sunday naming Jay-Z, 55.

Bloom, who is representing two alleged victims in separate civil cases against Combs, said this ‘tactic’ was tone deaf.

‘He didn’t use his real name and now he criticizes the accuser – his accuser – of not using her real name,’ Bloom pointed out. ‘So there is some hypocrisy there.’ 

Bloom also said Buzbee has done what she and other attorneys do regularly, which is to reach out to a possible defendant to settle the case in mediation rather than going to court.

‘There’s nothing illegal about it,’ Bloom said. ‘In fact, it’s favored by the courts because courts want settlements because courts are very clogged and busy and can’t possibly resolve all the cases that are before them.’

She added, ‘Extortion is not threatening to file a lawsuit unless somebody pays you money. 

‘So unless there’s something else that went on in the conversations with the lawyer and Jay-Z’s team that I don’t know about, that’s not public yet, I don’t think that case is going anywhere. I do think the case against Jay-Z, brought on behalf of the woman will go forward.’

In a statement, Buzbee called Jay-Z’s team is ‘desperate, shrill and seemingly out of control’ and ‘each allegation they have manufactured to date is an effort to divert attention to the serious allegations made by clients.’

The Texas attorney added: ‘If someone calls our intake group and has a viable case that we believe has merit and we can pursue we will pursue it. 

‘We are currently pursuing hundreds of cases against individuals and entities other than P Diddy. What we won’t do is pursue a case that we don’t believe has merit.’

Bloom said if the civil case against Jay-Z and Diddy were to move forward, it would be a huge development.

‘It would be significant, very big for the current case because that would show a pattern,’ the attorney said. 

One of Bloom’s high-profile clients, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard, claims Diddy ‘manipulated’ her with promises that he would help her music career. 

In her complaint, Richard claimed that Combs entered her dressing room located at his recording studio when she was fully undressed. 

She claimed that the music artist placed his hands on her breasts and buttocks.

Bloom said while it was a hard decision for Richard to come forward publicly, it is oftentimes difficult for most victims.

Bloom added Jay-Z’s insistence to ‘out’ the alleged victim is also ‘bad optics’ because the plaintiff is required to reveal their name to the defense – making it unnecessary for names to be released publicly, and only made Carter look like a ‘billionaire bully’.

‘Well, their real purpose is to embarrass and humiliate the victim,’ Bloom said. 

‘They’re going to do anything they can to do that and hope that the victim will just drop the case. 

Bloom added: ‘[Jay-Z] might be innocent. He might be guilty. I don’t know. I’m not making that call, but I do know that he is a very wealthy and privileged guy. 

‘And to say, like, I’m just a regular guy from Brooklyn when we’re talking about a billionaire,  it’s a little much for me.’

For all the latest updates on this story, listen to The Trial of Diddy – available wherever you get your podcasts now.