Jay-Z’s attorney is distancing his client from Sean “Diddy” Combs after the rappers were accused of raping a 13-year-old girl.
On Monday, attorney Alex Spiro talked to reporters about Combs’ professional relationship with the “99 Problems” rapper — born Shawn Carter — as the incarcerated hip-hop mogul faces mounting sexual assault lawsuits.
“Mr. Carter has nothing to do with Mr. Combs’ case or Mr. Combs. They knew each other professionally for a number of years,” the famed lawyer said at Roc Nation’s New York headquarters, per a video shared online.
“Just like in all professions, people know each other. At music awards, they support each other. They go to the NBA All-Star Game, they support each other. That’s just how professions work,” Spiro added.
The attorney said that “there is no closer association between” Jay and Combs, both 55.
“That’s all that there is. He doesn’t know anything about the charges or allegations against him. He has nothing to do with that case and there’s nothing more to say,” Spiro added.
Page Six has reached out to Combs’ rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.
In October, Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against the Bad Boy Records founder, accusing him of allegedly raping her at a house party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.
She also claimed at the time that an unknown male celebrity also raped her while an unnamed female celebrity watched.
On Dec. 8, the lawsuit was amended to add Jay-Z’s name as the unknown male celebrity who allegedly raped the then-teen.
The dad of three vehemently denied the accusations and claimed that the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, was trying to “blackmail” him.
The following day, Jay-Z filed to dismiss the rape lawsuit against him and asked for the accuser to be named publicly.
On Friday, Jane Doe conducted an interview with NBC News, in which she admitted to having inconsistencies in her story, including her father picking her up after the alleged rapes and the location the alleged crime took place.
Her dad reportedly could not corroborate her story.
“There are a lot of things, and this is stuff that we argue about constantly, something he said or did back in New York around that time period he just doesn’t remember,” she alleged to the outlet, when asked about her father. “It actually causes a lot of fights sometimes in the household.”
Spiro told reporters Monday that the woman’s inconsistencies “are not minor” and prove that her story “never happened.”
“I want to make sure this is clear: When people make up an account, whether intentionally or their mind is blank or something, they can always get that core part of the story right,” he said.
“They can just keep repeating it over and over and over again; this is what happened, that core part. But they’re always going to mess up the details. When something isn’t real, when something doesn’t happen, you’re going to get the details wrong because you weren’t really there.”
Spiro added, “[This was] not possible. It’s because this never happened.”
Combs has also denied his involvement in the rape via his rep. The “Act Bad” rapper is currently behind bars in Brooklyn, NY, after being arrested on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial date is set for May 5.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.