The family’s appearance comes a day after Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs 24 years ago. The lawsuit was originally filed in October and named Combs as a defendant. On Sunday, the lawsuit was refiled and now included Jay-Z.

Working with Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, the anonymous plaintiff has alleged she was raped at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.

Jay-Z has since denied the allegations. In a statement released by Roc Nation, the musician accused Buzbee of an “extortion attempt” aimed at “getting me to settle down.”

“It had the opposite effect,” Jay-Z continued in his statement. “It made me want to expose you VERY publicly for the fraud you are perpetrating.”

He went on to refer to Beyoncé, with whom he has three children, including Blue and seven-year-old twins Rumi and Sir: “My only sorrow is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit down with our children, one of whom is of the age when their friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims and explain people’s cruelty and greed.”

Buzbee has since contradicted Jay-Z’s claims. In a statement shared with the Associated Press, the attorney said: “What (Jay-Z) failed to disclose in his recent statement is that my office sent his attorney a simple letter of demand on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never requested one.” “Penny from him. Since I sent the letter on their behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but has attempted to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His behavior had the opposite effect. She is encouraged. I am very proud of their determination.”

The lawsuit comes amid a wave of sex trafficking and racketeering charges against Combs, who is currently being held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn following his arrest last September. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, will stand trial in May 2025.