Jay-Z Accuser Recants Allegations, Says She Never Met Him

A woman identified in court as Jane Doe has formally recanted her sexual assault allegations against Shawn Carter, known as Jay-Z, saying in a federal court declaration that she had never met him and that her claims against him were false. Carter has voluntarily dismissed Doe from his malicious-prosecution lawsuit, which continues against her former lawyer Tony Buzbee and his firm. In the 12-page declaration filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, Doe wrote that Carter had never raped her or engaged in inappropriate conduct toward her. She said she had never met or spoken with him and apologized for the harm her accusations caused, according to the filing. Doe also said she had not received, and was not promised, compensation for making the declaration. Doe’s new lawyer, James Blair Newman Jr., said she maintains that she was sexually assaulted but was mistaken in identifying Carter. Newman said her allegations against Carter were false and that she had never met him. The declaration does not independently establish what happened to Doe or resolve the allegations she previously made.