Jay-Z made his first public appearance today, amidst allegations of raping a 13-year-old girl. The rapper on Monday was accused in a lawsuit, of allegedly raping a minor with Sean Diddy Combs at an MTV afterparty, back in 2000.
The rapper, who has since denied the allegations and claimed it was nothing more than an extortion attempt, walked the red carpet hand-in-hand with wife Beyonce and daughter Blue Ivy Carter at the ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ premiere in Los Angeles, California.
The power couple put on their best and brightest smiles despite the ongoing controversy. Videos doing the rounds on social media see the parents standing with the paparazzi and cheering for Blue Ivy as she posed solo on the red carpet in her dazzling golden gown.
Beyonce, also in an elaborate gold sequin number with a thigh-high slit, later joined her daughter on the carpet as they posed for some family photos.
The Carter family appeared composed and united as they posed for photographs. The pictures have already sparked off heated discussions online with many viewing the singer’s joint appearance with her husband as a message of solidarity.
The allegations have placed the couple under intense scrutiny, with many awaiting further developments on the suit that also involved rapper Diddy, who is currently in custody and awaiting trial on charges including sex-trafficking.
However, the focus at the premiere remained on their family and their presence at the much-anticipated Disney event. ‘The Lion King’ prequel will see Blue Ivy, lending her voice to the character Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala, voiced by her mother, Beyonce.
As far as the rape allegations against Jay-Z are concerned, the Grammy award-winning rapper, producer and music mogul called them “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation.
He also revealed that he had anonymously sued the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbeelast month, alleging he was trying to blackmail him by threatening to make the rape allegation public if he didn’t agree to a legal settlement. He said Buzbee sent a letter to his lawyer appearing to seek a settlement, but that the letter had the “opposite effect” on him. “It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion,” Jay-Z’s statement read. “So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”
Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, filed court paperwork Monday asking a judge to require his accuser, who is only identified as Jane Doe, to reveal her identity if she wants to continue the lawsuit. Spiro said the woman hasn’t provided any evidence to justify her anonymity and that her “vague assertions of potential harm fall far short of the stringent requirements” under the law.
“Mr. Carter deserves to know the identity of the person who is effectively accusing him — in sensationalized, publicity-hunting fashion — of criminal conduct, demanding massive financial compensation, and tarnishing a reputation earned over decades,” Spiro wrote. “He has never been accused of, let alone engaged in, any sexual misconduct.”
Spiro asked for an urgent hearing on the matter.
Jay-Z & Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Raping A Minor In Explosive 2000 Allegations