Rapper Jay-Z is making all the right moves in defending himself from a rape allegation, a senior trial attorney has said.
Wayne Dennison, who represented Johnny Depp in his successful lawsuit against his former partner, Amber Heard, told Newsweek that Jay-Z's aggressive approach "will likely serve as a model for other celebrities who are eventually implicated in some manner."
"Jay Z and his legal team have taken an aggressive but, very likely, the right approach from a long-term public relations perspective. The best defense is very often a strong offense," Dennison said.
He said that, unlike Jay Z, there will likely be some celebrities who will settle civil claims rather than bear the risk of public scrutiny.
"It is very difficult to affirmatively prove complete innocence, and some celebrities will likely buy confidentiality if offered at the right price. If required to respond, those known to be in Mr. Combs' immediate orbit, especially those who were minors at the time, are also likely to deflect any blame to Mr. Combs and the incredible power that he exercised over them and in the recording, fashion and other related industries."
The Allegation
On December 8, a 37-year-woman filed a lawsuit in New York, alleging that she was raped by Jay-Z and fellow rapper, Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2000, when she was 13 years old.
The lawsuit was lodged by Texas lawyer Anthony Buzbee, who is representing over 200 clients who claim they were sexually abused by Combs.
Combs is currently in prison in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting criminal charges for human trafficking and other alleged offenses.
Buzbee's lawsuit against Jay-Z and Combs states that the then 13-year-old girl convinced a chauffeur to let her attend the VMA after-show party at a New York house on September 7, 2000.
She recognized several celebrities at the party and took a drink that immediately made her feel sleepy. She entered what appeared to be an empty bedroom, so she could lie down for a moment.
"Soon after, Combs entered the room, along with defendant Carter and a female celebrity ("Celebrity B"). Plaintiff immediately recognized all three celebrities," the lawsuit states.
She claims that she was raped by Combs and Carter before fleeing the house for a nearby gas station and calling her father to collect her.
The Counter Allegation
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, went on an aggressive campaign against Buzbee, while avoiding any criticism of the accuser.
In a multi-document response on December 9, Jay-Z's legal team revealed that he is the anonymous celebrity who launched an extortion lawsuit against Buzbee in Los Angeles on November 14.
They attached a copy of the 236-page lawsuit, in which Jay-Z's legal team alleged that Buzbee targeted celebrities to try to force them to settle sexual assault allegations.
Buzbee told Newsweek on December 10 that the allegations were not true.
"I take cases when people call. I pursue many hundreds of cases a year and I don't target anyone. Celebrities are a fraction of a fraction of who I represent and who we sue," he said.
Newsweek sought comment on Friday from Jay-Z's representative and Combs' attorney about the rape accusation.
Analysis Of Jay-Z's Response
Dennison said that Jay-Z was rightly issuing an "adamant denial" while "casting aspersions at the opposing lawyer, rather than the accuser."
Dennison is co-chair of the Brown Rudnick law firm's Brand and Reputation management team, which works on defending the reputation of celebrities and business people.
His firm's website states that "he represents clients from Fortune 500 corporations, elected officials, A-list celebrities, rock stars and other high-net-worth individuals, but he is most widely-known for being a part of the team that represented Johnny Depp in his successful defamation litigation against former-wife Amber Heard, and for the cross-examinations he conducted."
Depp sued Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post in which she said that she was a domestic abuse survivor, but did not name who had abused her. Heard had countersued for $100 million, but Depp's lawyers argued that it was obvious she was referring to the actor.
A highly-publicized trial followed in Virginia. In June, 2022, a jury found that Heard's op-ed references to "sexual violence" and "domestic abuse" were false and had defamed Depp.
The jury ordered her to pay Depp more than $10 million. She had originally started an appeal but announced on December 19, 2022, that she would settle the case.
Augusta, Georgia-based criminal attorney, Keith B. Johnson, told Newsweek that Jay Z's attorney, Alex Spiro "has employed a very aggressive defense strategy in an effort to keep public opinion on the side of his client, while the case makes its way through the legal system."
"A civil defendant filing suit against the Plaintiff's attorney is an extraordinary legal maneuver," he said.
"The merits of Jay Z's lawsuit against Buzbee are a secondary issue. Mr. Spiro is seeking to let the general public know that his client feels he has been unfairly targeted and is fighting back aggressively."
"If Mr. Spiro can keep the focus on Buzbee, he will continue to paint the picture that his client is being targeted because of his celebrity status."
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