Jay-Z is publicly addressing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, which he fought in court and won.
In a new interview, the music mogul reflected on the experience. “It was hard. Really hard,” he said. “I was heartbroken.”
The lawsuit, filed in 2024, accused Jay-Z and Sean Combs of assault, allegations both men denied. The case was later dismissed in February 2025.
Jay-Z shared that the situation brought intense emotions. “I was angry. I haven’t been that angry in a long time,” he said. “You don’t put that on someone. You better be super sure.”
He also explained why settling was never an option. “I can’t take a settlement. It ain’t in my DNA,” he said. “I can’t do it. I would die.”
The rapper described the personal impact behind the scenes. “First I had to tell my wife,” he said. “I know the weight that this is going to bring on our family.”
Jay-Z said that his friends and loved ones didn’t hesitate to rush to his side and offer support. The rapper explained that it was because people knew him and his character that there was never any doubt that he was innocent.