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JAY-Z and Beyonce put on a united front after he blasted a new lawsuit accusing him of raping a 13-year-old, but their $3 billion fortune could still be at risk amid the scandal, an expert has claimed.
The power couple attended Monday's premiere of Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King to support daughter Blue Ivy.
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They posed on the red carpet in Los Angeles with the 12-year-old, who voices the character Kiara, and were joined by Beyonce's mom, Tina Knowles.
Their family show came after the rapper publicly denied the allegations against him in a fiery statement.
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was accused in Sunday's lawsuit of taking part in the sexual assault alongside former pal, Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
The woman, named in the complaint as Jane Doe, claimed she was abused as a teenager at an MTV VMA after-party in 2000.
Carter slammed the "heinous" allegations and said he was heartbroken for his family, as he also hit out at the alleged victim's lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers gave his opinion on how the case could affect Carter and his famous spouse, who are now billionaires and run multiple businesses.
"The mere accusations themselves can be very damaging," he said.
"We saw, in Diddy's case, his net worth took a significant hit immediately.
"This could potentially be a game changer for Jay-Z.
"He and Beyonce, they’re music royalty. Taylor Swift might be the only musician who's more famous right now.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé put on united front as they attend premiere with daughter Blue Ivy after rapper is accused of raping 13yo girl in shock Diddy lawsuit
"And obviously, Jay-Z has his hands in all sorts of different businesses, including producing the NFL Super Bowl halftime show. So what's going to be the reaction there from the NFL?
"Potentially this can unravel pretty quickly for Jay-Z like it did for Diddy.
"Diddy came out very aggressively, denied all the allegations, and less than a year later is in custody and he has not been granted bail and he may spend the rest of his life in federal prison.
"I'm not saying necessarily that is going to happen to Jay-Z as well, but it's really going to be telling. Do more victims come forward? Is there evidence that supports these accusations?
Potentially this can unravel pretty quickly for Jay-Z like it did for Diddy."
Attorney Neama Rahmani
"I think in Diddy's case, the key evidence was the video evidence of him beating Cassie Ventura in 2016.
"What evidence and witnesses come out in the coming weeks and months? I think it's going to be very telling to see what direction this goes in."
The rapper and father-of-three came out fighting after the lawsuit was filed with his explosive denial, even accusing the plaintiff's attorney of blackmail.
"My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a 'lawyer'... What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle," he wrote.
'BOGUS AND LAUGHABLE'
"No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!"
Texas-based attorney Buzbee has already hit back, calling the star's claims "bogus and laughable" and vowing to push on with the case on behalf of his client.
He said his communication with Carter was a "standard demand letter" that had been "approved" by the accusing woman.
Rahmani told The U.S. Sun he was shocked by Carter's statement, which was "unique" as it did not appear to have been written by a lawyer or press representative.
"It could potentially backfire," he claimed.
"And we've seen it where people have come out and they've attacked the victims in the case, and if allegations are indeed true, sometimes that does motivate other victims and other witnesses to come forward.
"They say, ‘Whoa, what's going on? That's not true. I was there.'
"So, I've seen it time and time again where someone comes out and attacks one of my clients who's a victim, and because that attack is so public, it draws more attention [to] the case.
"And other people start calling me and saying, ‘You know what, I want to help this person who's been victimized.’ So, it can certainly backfire both in the courtroom and the court of public opinion.
"I've sued a lot of people in the music industry and the entertainment industry. And I can't recall an instance where the defendant himself or herself issued a statement without running it by legal and PR. So this was certainly unique.
Jay-Z's full statement following rape allegation
"My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a 'lawyer'... What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle.
No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!
These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?
These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.
This lawyer, who I have done a bit of research on, seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics!
I have no idea how you have come to be such a deplorable human Mr. [X], but I promise you I have seen your kind many times over. I’m more than prepared to deal with your type. You claim to be a marine?! Marines are known for their valor, you have neither honor nor dignity.
My only heartbreak is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.
I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age.
It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.
My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.
You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all “celebrities” are the same. I’m not from your world.
I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor.
"We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.
I look forward to showing you just how different I am."
"But obviously, Jay-Z felt like he needed to come out strong and aggressive. And that was the nature of the response."
But Rahmani said he doesn't understand why he attacked the lawyer.
"I don't know why Jay-Z is taking issue with Buzbee and calling him an ambulance chaser and a cheap suit," he said,
"Buzbee is representing his client who's making these very serious allegations.
"So my preference is to kind of keep things professional and just litigate this in the courtroom without attacking the lawyers involved."
Rahmani said he believes it is now a "wait and see" situation with Carter to see if any more alleged victims come forward or hard evidence of the current claim.
He is not accused of a crime and is not a part of Diddy's current situation as he remains behind bars awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Despite this, Rahmani said anyone who participated, or witnessed, one of Diddy's "freak-off orgies" could find themselves in hot water and should hire a lawyer.
"Now, from Jay-Z's perspective, this can go in one of two ways," he said.
"This can be a one-off case involving one accusation by one victim, which he'll have to defend and maybe even settle. Or, like Diddy, it can create a domino effect, or a snowball, where other alleged victims come forward.
"I think this is the type of case that will not settle, and I've said this before, it's not just about money, it's about one's reputation.
"And I think this is something that Jay-Z is probably gonna fight more or less the whole way.
"If there is some sort of settlement it will still tarnish his reputation, and I think it'll be difficult for him to recover absent of some sort of vindication in the courtroom here. Or, of course, a withdrawal, by the [alleged] victim in this case."
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English (US) ·