Judge Rules Jay-Z’s Accuser Can Remain Anonymous, Criticizes Rapper’s Attorney for Aggressive Tactics

A New York judge has ruled that the identity of the woman accusing Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 years old will remain anonymous, despite efforts by the rapper’s attorney, Alex Spiro, to have her name revealed.

Judge Torres has weighed in on Jay-Z v. Tony Buzbee, and it’s a win for Buzbee.

She’s allowing plaintiff to proceed anonymously, at least for now, and she called out Alex Spiro’s tactics.

“The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it.” pic.twitter.com/QhdDZ5cKPT

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 26, 2024

Judge Analisa Torres criticized Spiro’s approach, calling his repeated motions “combative” and full of “inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks.” In her Thursday filing, Torres stated, “Carter’s lawyer’s relentless filing of combative motions… is inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client. The Court will not fast-track the judicial process merely because counsel demands it.”

The plaintiff, referred to as “Jane Doe” in her lawsuit, has accused Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her at an after-party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City.

According to the suit, Jane Doe alleges she was approached by Combs’ alleged limo driver while trying to get into the awards show. She was invited to an after-party, where she claims she was asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement. The suit further alleges that after being served a drink at the party, she was drugged and then raped by Combs and Carter as an unnamed female celebrity watched.

The disturbing allegations were refiled earlier this month in the Southern District of New York, and Jay-Z’s legal team has denied the claims. Spiro has labeled the accusations as false, suggesting they are part of a scheme by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee to extract settlements from celebrities.