Jay-Z’s appeal to reinstate defamation and extortion claims against attorney Tony Buzbee has been denied. Both allegations arose from a previously dismissed lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.
A California appeals court has kept the case sealed, ruling that the demand letters before the lawsuit were protected communications about potential litigation.
It was further ruled that Jay-Z had provided insufficient admissible evidence to prove defamation.
Jay-Z had denied the allegations. The lawsuit alleging sexual assault against Jay-Z was dismissed with prejudice in February 2025.
His attorneys maintained that a recorded conversation between Jane Doe and her lawyer indicated that Jane had admitted that Jay-Z never assaulted her and that Buzbee was forcing her to file the case. The court found the recorded conversation inadmissible hearsay.
The court also dismissed the criminal extortion case in Buzbee’s settlement demands.
Jay-Z continues to pursue another lawsuit filed in federal court in New York.
