Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter put on an united front at the global premiere of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King on Monday, a day after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
A unnamed woman has accused the 55-year-old rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, of sexually assaulting her at the MTV Music Awards in 2000.
The lawsuit, initially filed in New York in October, originally named Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs but was recently amended to include Carter. Jay-Z has denied the allegations since they emerged on Sunday and has reportedly filed a motion to waiver her identity.
The family smiled for photos on the red carpet at the event held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. For the event, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy both donned metallic dresses, while Jay-Z opted for a dark suit.
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, was also in attendance in an all-black outfit, joining them for the premiere.
Multi-Grammy winner Beyoncé also took to Instagram to celebrate her daughter's achievement on Monday, writing: “My gorgeous baby girl, this is your night. You worked hard and did such a beautiful job as the voice of Kiara.”
The singer, who also voices Nala in Mufasa: The Lion King, added: "Your family could not be prouder. Keep shining."
Meanwhile, Knowles made headlines herself after addressing rumours surrounding her social media activity. The 70-year-old responded to a screenshot circulating online that suggested she had "liked" a post about the allegations against Jay-Z.
Posting a Notes app statement on Instagram, she clarified: “I was hacked. As you all know, I do not play about my family. So if you see something uncharacteristic of me, just know that it is not me!”
She concluded with a warning: “Please stop playing with me!” and referenced a Bible verse in the caption: “No weapon formed against my family shall prosper.”
Their red carpet appearance comes after Jay-Z said he and his wife Beyoncé would explain together to their children a civil lawsuit that accuses him of raping a 13-year-old girl with Combs.
The Empire State of Mind hitmaker was named in the lawsuit for the first time on Sunday, and he issued a furious statement on X through his record label Roc Nation, personally attacking the lawyer representing his accuser.
He called the lawsuit a “blackmail attempt” and attacked the lawyer as a “deplorable human”, and said he and wife Beyoncé will now have to explain the publicity surrounding the lawsuit to their children, Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, seven.
“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”, he said.
“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.”
The civil lawsuit claims the woman – referred to as Jane Doe – was drugged and raped at an awards show afterparty on September 7, 2000 at New Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Jay-Z’s statement read: “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a 'lawyer' named Tony Buzbee.
“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!!”
He went on: “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. Buzbee, 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.”
Diddy is currently in custody, awaiting a criminal trial over multiple claims of sex trafficking, kidnapping, drugging women, and rape. He denies all the charges.
Jay-Z’s statement concludes: “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 (Buzbee) 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.”
Diddy’s criminal trial is set to begin on May 5, 2025. He is facing a large number of civil lawsuits as well, and Mr Buzbee has said more than 100 alleged victims are planning to take legal action.
The lawyer said that the lawsuit involving Jay-Z "speaks for itself."
"This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court," he wrote.
And taking to social media, he said the woman "never demanded a penny" from the rapper and “only sought a confidential mediation”.
