Jay-Z filed a $20 million libel lawsuit in Alabama federal court, and the woman accused him of sexual assault (later revoked) now pleas to remain anonymous on the grounds that she fears her mental health and safety.
This woman, known only as Jane Doe, is begging the judge to block her identity. Her legal team said revealing her name could cause irreversible psychological harm.
“From a psychiatric perspective, in this case, compulsory disclosure of her identity will have catastrophic consequences for her mental health,” said DOE psychiatrist Dr. John T. Olsen. “This public contact will restore her current mental health to a stable level. This effect may be severe because her psychiatric symptoms are exacerbated, her function worsens and has a serious negative impact on her overall prognosis.”
The legal battle with hip-hop tycoon began with accusing Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” combs of assaulting her at a party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards after Doe filed a civil lawsuit in California in late 2024.
She claimed she was 13 years old and had taken drugs. Both denied the charges. The case was voluntarily dismissed in February 2025 in prejudice, which means it cannot be considered.
Jay-Z’s real name is Shawn Carter, and subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Tony Buzbee and David Fortney, accusing them of filing a claim that damages his reputation and extorting money.
His complaint said DOE privately admitted that the story was wrong and her legal team encouraged her to continue pursuing.
Court documents require investigators working with Carter’s legal team to visit Doe’s home and talk to his parents. She described the encounter as “fair and terrifying.”
Despite her identity being sealed, Doe says she and her family have been targeted by threats online.
Her lawyers believe that all parties already know her name and that keeping her confidentiality will not affect Jay-Z’s ability to prepare for a trial. They also pointed out that Carter once asked the defendant to submit a pseudonym order in another case.
Nevertheless, the judge has not yet decided whether DOE can remain anonymous.
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Ironically, hard to ignore – The U.S. Department of Energy now says that if her name is revealed, her life and reputation will be destroyed.
Jay-Z clearly shows how deeply the situation has affected him and his family.
“My greatest sorrow is to my family. My wife and I will have to sit down and explain the cruelty and greed behind these allegations. It’s devastating, my children (now one of my children can read the news now and may have problems with unfounded problems… It’s an innocent regret, another loss that no kid has to endure.”
The next hearing in the case has not been arranged yet.
