Jane Doe who accused Jay-Z of sexual assault formally recants her claims

September 25, 2026 / 10:54 AM EDT / CBS News

The Jane Doe who accused rap mogul Jay-Z of sexual assault has formally recanted her claims, stating in court documents that her claims were false and that she never met him.

"Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter never raped me. I have never met or spoken to Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter never engaged in any inappropriate conduct toward me whatsoever," the anonymous woman wrote in the 12-page declaration, which was reviewed by CBS News. Shawn Carter is Jay-Z's legal name. "There is no truth to any of my claims against Mr. Carter."

The woman said that she understood her "false accusations have caused Mr. Carter immense pain, suffering and damage that can never be fully undone."

The woman previously claimed that she had been raped by Carter and Sean "Diddy" Combs while a third person watched. The initial lawsuit, filed in October 2024 and amended to include Carter in December 2024, alleged that the woman was invited to a Video Music Awards afterparty when she was a teen. She alleged that after accepting a drink at the afterparty, she began to feel lightheaded and went to lie down. She then alleged that Carter…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/