The woman who accused Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter of sexually assaulting her when she was 13 has withdrawn the allegation, filing a sworn declaration in Manhattan federal court stating that she never met the music mogul and that her claims were false, according to Breitbart News.
The accusation first surfaced in December 2024, when the woman — identified only as “Jane Doe” — alleged in a lawsuit that the assault occurred in 2000 during an after-party connected to the MTV Music Awards. In her original complaint, she said she had traveled from Rochester to New York City, befriended a limousine driver, and was eventually attacked by Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Carter denied the allegation immediately and filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit in response. Now, roughly nine months later, the accuser has reversed course.
A Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury
In a 12-page declaration obtained by Rolling Stone, the woman wrote, “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.”
“There is no truth to any of my claims against Mr. Carter,” she continued. “I understand my false accusations have caused Mr. Carter immense pain, suffering, and damage that can never be fully undone.”
The declaration was submitted under penalty of perjury, and the document states that she has not received any money or compensation for the recantation.
Her attorney issued a statement to reporters maintaining that the woman still believes she was a victim of sexual assault, but that she was “entirely mistaken” in identifying Carter as the perpetrator. “Mr. Carter did not rape her, sexually assault her, engage in any inappropriate conduct towards her, and she has never met him,” the lawyer said. “She sincerely and unconditionally apologizes to Mr. Carter and his family.”
The woman also dismissed her complaint against Combs, who is currently imprisoned following two convictions under the Mann Act and could be released in early 2028, per Breitbart’s reporting.
A Rare Outcome in the #MeToo Era
Breitbart’s John Nolte, writing in the outlet’s entertainment section, attributed Carter’s survival of the allegation to three factors: his status as a prominent left-wing activist with connections reaching as high as former President Obama; the fact that only one accusation was lodged against him; and his swift, aggressive denial, which included a countersuit signaling consequences for false claims.
Nolte contrasted Carter’s situation with those of other public figures whose careers were damaged by unproven allegations, noting that the Roc Nation founder avoided the prolonged legal and professional limbo faced by figures like Johnny Depp and Kevin Spacey, both of whom were ultimately cleared in court.
“Believe me, I’m no Jay-Z fan,” Nolte wrote, “but no one should be destroyed over a false allegation. No one deserves that.”
The recantation marks an unusual turn in a case that had drawn widespread media attention when it was filed. Carter has not yet publicly commented on the declaration. The status of his malicious prosecution suit against the woman and her legal representatives remains unclear, and it is not known whether he intends to pursue damages following the recantation.
For Combs, the dismissal of the complaint removes one element from an already sprawling web of legal troubles. He remains incarcerated and is not scheduled for possible release until 2028.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/09/25/nolte-woman-recants-sexual-assault-claim-against-jay-z/