Jay-Z's extortion suit against lawyer in withdrawn rape case faces skepticism from judge
Rapper Jay-Z attends the 2026 Met Gala on May 4, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for the Met Museum/Vogue)
Rapper Jay-Z’s lawyers asked a California appeals court Thursday to hear his claim that attorney Tony Buzbee extorted him and to reconsider its tentative decision to strike the claims on public participation grounds.
A short-lived 2024 lawsuit filed by Buzbee alleged that Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, of participating with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in the rape of two minors. Jay-Z sued Buzbee, alleging that he fabricated claims for financial gain and attention.
In the California appeals court, the rap icon’s case hinged heavily on excluded evidence from the trial court, which was gathered by private investigators and included a taped interview with one accuser. She can be heard on the tape saying Buzbee pressured her to make false claims against Jay-Z, according to coverage by Billboard and Bloomberg Law.
Jay-Z’s legal team includes Horvitz & Levy partner Jeremy B. Rosen, who said the trial court abused its discretion in excluding the recordings, and it wrongly applied California’s anti-SLAPP statute to request letters that Buzbee sent to Jay-Z. California Second Appellate District Court of Appeal Justice Stephen Goorvitch wanted proof that the tapes were ethically obtained.
“My concern is a plaintiff’s lawyer shows up in court and says, magically, this interview has been dropped in my lap,” Goorvitch said. “It looks highly suspicious that somehow somebody talked to Mr. Buzbee’s client directly.”
Samuel A. Moniz represents Buzbee and argued that the taped interview with the accuser was coerced, and that investigators threatened to publicly expose her identity if she did not recant. Moniz is a partner with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton.
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
