In a dramatic turn of events, music mogul Jay-Z has responded to serious allegations of rape that have surfaced recently, calling the claims nothing more than an act of blackmail. The allegations, which were made public in a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York, involve accusations that Jay-Z, alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs, sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in 2000.

The lawsuit, initially filed in October, named Diddy as the defendant, but it was amended to include Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) just today. The anonymous accuser claims the assault occurred after she was driven to an afterparty following the MTV Video Music Awards. According to the lawsuit, the victim was given a drink that made her feel disoriented and in need of rest. She alleges that while she was lying down, Jay-Z and Diddy entered the room and sexually assaulted her.

In response to the lawsuit, Jay-Z’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations, labeling them as false and accusing the accuser’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of trying to extort money. Jay-Z has said that he will not give “one red penny” to the accuser and expressed his heartbreak over the situation, particularly for his family.

The accuser’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, has fired back on social media, accusing Jay-Z of attempting to bully and harass both him and his client. He insists that the allegations speak for themselves and says the case will ultimately be decided in court, not in the media. The back-and-forth between the two parties has escalated quickly, with both sides taking their disputes to the public.

Legal experts are closely watching this case as it unfolds. Former FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffman speculated that there could be more witnesses to come forward, and pointed out the detailed accounts in the lawsuit, including descriptions of the house, the car ride, and the presence of another woman