Accuser Seeks Dismissal in Jay-Z Defamation Lawsuit
Hold up, this just got unexpectedly spicy: Jay‑Z’s defamation and malicious prosecution suit is on the defensive, thanks to his own accuser. In a motion filed April 18 in Los Angeles Superior Court, the woman who publicly accused Shawn “Jay‑Z” Carter of sexual assault is asking Judge Elizabeth White to toss his lawsuit out entirely. She argues that his complaint, originally lodged in October 2023, fails to establish any valid cause of action under California law—a claim People Magazine first detailed and corroborated by court documents obtained via Dotdash Meredith’s legal beat.
According to her motion, the rapper’s defamation counts don’t meet the standard for false statements causing reputational harm, and the malicious prosecution claims fall flat because the underlying criminal investigation was closed without charges. Citing California Code of Civil Procedure Section 430.10, the filing asserts that Jay‑Z’s suit “lacks a private right of action” and “does not allege essential elements,” effectively calling it a nonstarter. She also attached a declaration outlining procedural missteps in the plaintiff’s original papers, insisting the case “is barred as a matter of law.”
It’s kind of wild, right? The rapper had claimed that her public allegations—first made in late 2022—wrongfully maligned him, causing “substantial injury” to his brand and career. But her team counters that she never initiated criminal charges, and prosecutors declined to file, which undercuts Jay‑Z’s claims of malicious prosecution. The motion even highlights that the defamation counts hinge on “statements of opinion” rather than provably false facts, a classic shield in free‑speech defense.
As reported by People and confirmed by Dotdash Meredith, Jay‑Z now has 30 days to respond to this dismissal bid. If the judge grants the motion, it could end the lawsuit before a single deposition—or settle terms on costs awarded to the accuser. If she denies it, expect a protracted discovery war, subpoenas flying, and maybe a showdown at summary judgment.
Legal junkies and casual fans alike will want to watch this one: will Jay‑Z salvage his claims, or will the motion kill the case in its tracks? Either way, the next chapter is about to drop—and it might be even messier. Anyway, that’s the tea. Judge White’s ruling could land any day now, so stay tuned.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
