Jay-Z has developed a reputation for being industry teflon. He’s one of the most respected artists in hip hop, and a master of image control, from his music to his marriage with Beyonce. Hov’s image has taken a serious hit in the last few weeks, however. The rapper was accused of raping a teenage girl with Diddy at a 2000 VMA’s afterparty. Various industry figures have come and voiced their support for Jay-Z, but he has made his frustration with the allegations clear regardless. The Brooklyn emcee has issued several statements. Now, his lawyer Alex Spiro is speaking on his behalf.
Spiro held a press conference on Monday, December 16. The lawyer made it very clear that his client plans to fight the allegations made against him. He also made clear Jay-Z was “upset.” Very, very upset. Spiro used the word multiple times throughout his statement. “He’s upset that somebody would be allowed to do this,” the lawyer explained. “Make a mockery of the system like this.” Spiro claimed that Jay-Z is concerned for the credibility of other, “real” assault victims. The rapper is reportedly also upset with the impact that the allegations have had on his wife and children. “He should be upset,” the lawyer opined.
Spiro also addressed the rumor that Jay-Z and Diddy had a close friendship dating back to the 1990s. He claimed that the two men had a professional relationship, but that there is no “closer association,” nor has there ever been. “Just like in all professions,” Spiro explained. “People know each other. If you to the NBA All Star Game, they support each other. That just how professions work.” The lawyer also explained that Jay-Z has no connection to Diddy.
Spiro’s statement comes a few days after a bombshell report on Jay-Z’s accuser. NBC interviewed the woman in question, who goes by the name Jane Doe. The outlet discovered several inaccuracies in her claim, which she admitted to on the air. Despite these inaccuracies, however, Doe maintains that Jay-Z and Diddy raped her. “Honestly, what is the clearest is what happened to me,” she asserted. “And [the] route that I took to what happened to me.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought about the massive YSL RICO trial involving Young Thug, says she has no regrets about the case. It ended earlier this month, with not-guilty verdicts for Yak Gotti. Young Thug also took a plea deal back in October that immediately saw his release from jail.
“There were lives lost and their lives that matter, and as long as I’m the DA, no matter your socioeconomic status, or your race, your life is going to have value if you’re harmed in this community,” Willis said to WSBTV. As for whether she has any regrets, Willis added: “Obviously when you try a case, you go back and you look at things and you always have a Monday morning quarterbacking analysis.”
Brian Steel, attorney for rapper Young Thug, arrives at the Fulton County Courthouse on November 27, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Opening statements are set to begin in the case against 31-year-old US rapper Young Thug and 28 others, who are facing a racketeering indictment accusing the defendants of a number of offenses that support an overarching conspiracy charge, including murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, and theft. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
Willis also confirmed that she intends to pursue cases against the five remaining YSL defendants. “I’m not going to get into the details of that case. As you know, I have five defendants pending,” Willis said. “I think it gets lost on people that many people took responsibility for their parts in that case.”
Fani Willis Reflects On The YSL RICO Case
Willis isn’t the only one to be making headlines this week for reflecting on the YSL RICO case. Lil Woody also sat down with VladTV for an interview in which he discussed learning Young Thug took a plea deal, his role as a witness on the stand, and more. Check out Fani Willis’ full comments on the case below.
Jaguar Wright launched some very wild allegations against Jay-Z and Beyoncé amid the Diddy scandal, and now she’s adding more fuel to that fire. Moreover, she recently uploaded a video on social media claiming that she’s working with Tony Buzbee’s office, the lawyer representing over 100 alleged sexual assault victims of Sean Combs as well as the anonymous woman accusing him and Hov of allegedly sexually assaulting her at a 2000 VMAs after party when she was 13 years old. Wright spoke to a woman who seemingly works at Buzbee’s firm, but he is calling cap on the full claim.
Furthermore, according to TMZ, Tony Buzbee clarified that Jaguar Wright did speak to his intake staff, but denied that she’s actually working with him on the Jay-Z and Diddy lawsuit. Of course, tying her into the investigation and litigation could be a bit of a social media firestorm to navigate. After all, Piers Morgan had to apologize to the Roc-A-Fella mogul and Beyoncé for airing Wright’s claims about them on his program, which followed some significant pressure and pushback from Jay’s lawyer Alex Spiro.
This pushback continues to this day, as Jay-Z, Diddy, and their legal teams denied any and all wrongdoing and have gone after Tony Buzbee, Jaguar Wright, and others for their supposed fabrications. Specifically, they accused Buzbee of attempting to force a settlement and extort them for cash by spreading these alleged falsehoods. Not only that, but another accusation is that the attorney pressured alleged victims to fake their supposed stories. All in all, it’s still a very complicated legal issue that we will probably not see a full resolution to. But we’ll definitely hear about it as things develop and as the hip-hop world reacts.
Meanwhile, the latest update we got on Jay-Z and Tony Buzbee – and apparently not Jaguar Wright, per the latter – is how the rapper sought to dismiss the case following the alleged victim’s NBC News interview, during which she admitted to “mistakes” in her story. However, the Jane Doe stands by the notion that these inconsistencies don’t nullify her alleged experience and trauma.
Real Boston Richey is facing more harsh developments in the saga of his love life, which stirred up controversy earlier this year when fans accused him of being with his current partner, Tatiana Chanell, when she was underage. Now, his ex girlfriend Aire accused him via Twitter of sending a video of them being intimate to someone to brag, and that he still reaches out to her often. Not only that, but she also accused the rapper of sending her money in addition to his communications, showing her the same kind of love that he shows for Chanell online. All in all, it’s a pretty nasty accusation, albeit still an unconfirmed one.
“Boston Richey is a child molester, and a creep who exposes girls,” Aire alleged concerning Real Boston Richey. “Nawl his mother started bothering me & he exposed me numerous of times without my knowledge.” Also, she posted alleged text messages in which the HANDLING BUSINESS collaborator saying that he sent the explicit video to brag and offering her money as an apology. When his mother accused Aire of extorting him over this video, she responded with an alleged recording of the mom speaking foully of his current girlfriend.
Apparently, Tatiana deactivated her social media pages, and she’s gone back and forth both publicly and privately with Real Boston Richey’s ex girlfriend multiple times. In fact, Aire and one of Tatiana’s cousins allegedly got into a physical altercation over it. So it looks like all these individuals still have a lot to work out among themselves, as much as the “What U Bad For” artist might want to brag. Still, we want to emphasize that these are just accusations at press time, and not ones he publicly responded to yet.
This follows a pretty prolific year for Real Boston Richey, who dropped off a lot of singles this year plus his new album, Richey Rich. Maybe he ends up talking about this issue before the year wraps up, or this is one of those social media stories that wanes over time. Considering how heavy some of these allegations are, maybe these individuals won’t let things fizzle out.
VladTV recently hosted Lil Woody for an interview, who had a pretty funny moment with DJ Vlad while they were talking about the Young Thug and YSL RICO trial. For those unaware, Woody testified in court against Thug and company, although he then moved against the State in what was a pretty confusing and controversial series of events. During this conversation with Vlad, he even asked him if he’s with the police since he apparently knew that he was released from prison before everyone else. Vlad denied everything, and Woody gave the media personality his props while inquiring on his process.
In fact, DJ Vlad and Lil Woody even talked about how the former allegedly wanted $50K for an interview, but they couldn’t work it out. Also, Vlad didn’t want to interview Woody while he was still involved with the YSL RICO trial, as his media appearances showed up in court. Elsewhere, the YSL affiliate also reflected on how he lied about Young Thug as a hostile witness and what that whole controversy taught him. It was a tough choice, but one that he’s happy to unpack.
Lil Woody Asks DJ Vlad If He Works With The Police
“If the first judge stayed on that case – I’ma shut up,” Lil Woody told DJ Vlad. “When you sitting right here protecting yourself from whatever things they’re trying to put on you – if you go look at my past, every time I went to jail, I went to jail for them throwing charges on me. So, when they question me, I know they’re trying to get me. So what am I gonna do? I’m gonna protect me. I’m not expecting these people to actually take my word because even when they asked my name, I ain’t commit no crime, I’m driving a car, ‘What’s your name?’ I give ’em somebody else’s name. Y’all know I’m a liar.”
Meanwhile, DJ Vlad also opened up about the YFN Lucci stabbing. For those unaware, an alleged YSL affiliate stabbed Lucci in Fulton County Jail back in March of 2022, which Woody labeled as a “lame” move. Also, he reflected on facing similar attacks during his time in prison.
Slowthai has been found not guilty of allegedly raping two women at a house party following a concert in Oxford, in September 2021. After 10 hours of deliberation, the jury decided against convicting him and his co-defendant, Alex Blake-Walker of three counts of rape. According to The Guardian, Slowthai broke into tears after they read the verdict.
The rapper’s defense attorney, Patrick Gibbs KC, said in his closing statements that Slowthai “wasn’t everybody’s stereotype of a rapper”, but instead a “thoughtful” and “modest” man who “throws himself, sometimes recklessly, into life.” He added: “Even if he [Mr Frampton] is acquitted, it [the allegations] will not leave him,” suggesting “he’ll be canceled for the rest of time.”
As for the allegation, the two women say Slowthai and Blake-Walker met them before the show and provided them with VIP tickets. Afterward, they joined the two on their tour bus before eventually going to one of the women’s houses. Prosecutor Heather Stangoe further alleged that Slowthai and Blake-Walker raped the two women on the roof and gave each other high-fives as it happened. She also claimed the women’s friends realized what was happening and broke it up. The two women went to the police that same night. Judge Ian Pringle said during the trial that the case was a “question of consent” and that there was “no stereotype for a perpetrator or victim of rape.”
Slowthai broke onto the mainstream scene in 2019 with the release of his critically acclaimed album, Nothing Great About Britain. He followed that up with Tyron in 2021 before most recently releasing Ugly in 2023. He earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording in 2021 for “My High” with Disclosure and Aminé.
We don’t know about you, but keeping up with the stacked lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs is a difficult feat. After his ex-girlfriend of 11-ish years, Cassie Ventura, first sued the Hip Hop mogul, Diddy hasn’t been able to escape the fallout of sexual assault allegations. Currently, the Bad Boy Records founder sits in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting trial for racketeering and sex trafficking. He was denied bail three times and will remain incarcerated until his trial, to the dismay of his children, who have sent public well-wishes via social media. Through his legal team, Combs has denied the accusations against him, although the video of him violently assaulting Ventura in 2016 at a Los Angeles hotel has besmirched his reputation.
According to Forbes, three more men have filed lawsuits against Diddy. This comes on the heels of a man who accused the “Mo Money Mo Problems” rapper of abuse, only identified as John Doe, sitting down with CNN for an anonymous interview. He is one of many who have filed a civil suit against the media magnate. The outlet stated that Doe first filed a suit against Combs in mid-October 2024, and now, Doe spoke openly on camera about what he supposedly endured. He claims he was a victim of the infamous “White Parties,” where Diddy allegedly “drugged and sodomized” him almost 20 years ago.
As Puff awaits his trial, where it is unclear if he’ll take the stand in his defense, the court of public opinion has already condemned him. John Doe’s chat with CNN detailed a harrowing ordeal, and it will be up to a judge to determine if they believe his story in the wake of one of the most significant falls from grace Hip Hop has ever seen in its history.
John Doe Unveils His Alleged Story About His Diddy Encounter
According to the anonymous accuser, he was married to a woman at the time of his alleged 2007 assault. He told CNN that, at the time, he didn’t tell his wife about the incident because he was ashamed. Doe claims he was introduced to Diddy after being employed to work security at one of the mogul’s famed White Parties at the music icon’s East Hampton, New York, estate. Back then, Doe worked for a private firm. “The full gravity of it lives with me to this day,” he said. “It affects every single thing you do for the rest of your life.”
Combs has been accused of drugging and assaulting his alleged victims, and Doe stated this happened to him. In his complaint against Diddy, Doe said that during the evening, he consumed “two alcoholic drinks” that “he believes were laced with GHB and ecstasy.” The documents further showed that Diddy allegedly spoke with Doe after the latter became “extremely ill.” Then, the man says Combs forced him into a vehicle, subdued him, and sodomized him against his will as he cried for help.
Doe claimed he “wasn’t able to stand.” He added, “It was just an amazing level of incapacitation that I had never experienced before and I felt powerless.” The lawsuit states Doe told his supervisor about the incident, but the result of the conversation left him jobless. “He just dismissed it and said, ‘I’ll talk to him,’” said Doe. “After that, he didn’t talk to me again, he cut me out of everything.” He further expressed he had to “find a different field” of work because he could no longer find employment in security. Additionally, he asserted that an unnamed celebrity was there to witness the alleged attack. “There was one high-profile individual who saw what happened and found it amusing.”
The Inconsistencies From The Initial Story
CNN noted that they found some discrepancies in their investigation of John Doe’s claims. While he told the publication that the alleged assault took place in 2007, his October 2024 lawsuit showed 2006. It was learned that Combs’ 2006 White Party was in the luxury of St. Tropez, not the Hamptons. Further, the initial suit stated Doe was never married. Doe now says his marriage dissolved because of the alleged attack. The complaint was later changed, with CNN reporting that Doe’s attorneys, including Tony Buzbee, claimed they misstepped details as they attempted to “rush the file.”
Diddy’s team reacted to this admission by saying in a statement: “After [attorney Tony] Buzbee was exposed this week for pressuring clients to bring bogus cases against Mr. Combs, and after public records showed that — contrary to his allegations —there was no white party in the Hamptons in 2006, Buzbee amended this complaint to walk back the allegations and now claim a different day and wholly different year.”
It is unclear how long Doe will be able to remain anonymous, as many alleged victims are being called to reveal their identities. “I have a semblance of a life, a very quiet life,” Doe told CNN of wanting to remain in the shadows. “I would prefer what little is left of it to be left alone. Nothing could give me back the person I was before that evening.”
Buzbee Asserts Diddy Has Over 100 Alleged Victims
Tony Buzbee has been quite vocal about representing alleged victims who have come forward with purported tales about Combs. The lawyer reportedly told the BBC that he’d received approximately 3,000 calls from the public about his stacked cases against Puff. However, he added that “realistically,” of the 300 or so he has vetted, his “final total will be ‘about 100 to 150.’” Following press conferences and public statements, Buzbee has been accused of coercing alleged victims. It is a charge he denies.
“This allegation is patently ridiculous,” Buzbee told CNN. “What we won’t do is pursue a case that we don’t believe has merit. We don’t pressure people nor do we need to.” Most of Buzbee’s clients against Combs have opted to remain anonymous, although some names have surfaced as this scandal progresses. The attorney has reportedly filed over 20 civil suits, including one that also named Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, in an alleged attack on a 13-year-old girl following the MTV Video Music Awards over 20 years ago. The Roc Nation tycoon immediately fired back in several statements, vehemently denying he assaulted anyone.
Further, Carter’s legal team has reportedly asked the courts to expedite the trial in order to clear his name as quickly as possible. Moreover, Hov has taken aim at Buzbee, accusing the attorney of trying to obtain an extortion money grab in place of facts.
Since he stepped into the Hip Hop scene as a teenager, Quando Rondo has found himself wrapped up in controversy. The Savannah, Georgia, native has released three studio albums and several mixtapes since 2017, but he’s become more known for his Rap beefs and run-ins with the law more than his music. The most significant of Quando’s scandals arrived in 2020 with the murder of Only The Family rapper King Von in Atlanta. Later, in 2022, Rondo, real name Tyquian Bowman, and his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, were ambushed while visiting Los Angeles. Robinson was killed in the attack.
The following year, Rondo was arrested in connection to gang and drug infractions. He was only out on bond for a few months before the FBI nabbed him on federal drug charges. He again bonded out but was picked up for Driving Under the Influence at the top of 2024. More recently, Quando Rondo has learned he will serve over two years in prison after receiving a conviction for those federal charges. It’s been a whirlwind for Bowman within the last few years alone, and some believe that he has often been on a self-destructive path. Let’s take a look at the details regarding Quando’s conviction and sentence, as well as a few of the controversies that preceded his upcoming stint behind bars.
Quando Rondo Convicted Of Federal Drug Charges
Days ago, Quando Rondo learned his fate, and we’re sure he’s dissatisfied with the outcome. As reported by Rolling Stone and the Savannah Morning News, the rapper was sentenced to 33 months in prison on December 12 after entering a guilty plea to a charge of conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. Moreover, following his release, Bowman will endure “three years of supervised release” and “also must pay a $40,000 fine.” Quando was able to dodge similar, more severe charges related to the possession and distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He was initially looking at 20 years in prison for the full conviction. However, Rondo’s legal team was able to secure him a minor win by negotiating a lesser sentence with prosecutors.
During the hearing, Quando reportedly addressed the court. Despite a career of trolling his foes and making light of his legal issues, the rapper seemed regretful. “I really want to give an apology to the city of Savannah,” he said. “And I want to give an apology to my family and friends, loved ones, and most of all my daughters for taking all my family and all my loved ones through this stressful point.” Rondo is set to begin serving his sentence sometime in mid-January 2025.
His Cousin Lul Pab’s Murder
The case involving the shooting death of Lul Pab is also tied to the recent arrest of Chicago Drill rapper Lil Durk. In 2022, Rondo and Pab were at a West Hollywood gas station near the famed Beverly Center mall when they were fired upon by masked gunmen, resulting in the latter’s death. Investigators arrested Durk, real name Durk Banks, and five other members of The Voice rapper’s Only The Family crew this year. Police allege that Pab’s murder was retaliation for the killing of King Von. Lil Durk faces charges of murder-for-hire, as authorities contend that he was the mastermind behind Pab’s death—a shooting that was allegedly intended to take out Quando Rondo.
However, though prosecutors are sure of their case, Durk has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The rapper’s indictment reportedly reads, “After the murder, defendant Banks made clear, in coded language, that he would pay a bounty or monetary reward, and/or make payment to anyone who took part in killing [Bowman] for his role in [Bennett’s] murder.” Since Durk’s arrest, he’s been hit with more charges, per Rolling Stone. He also faces “one new count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one new count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.” The case is ongoing and, if convicted, Lil Durk could spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
The Murder Of King Von Following An Altercation With Quando Rondo
Lil Durk and Quando Rondo’s crews didn’t exactly keep their animosity under wraps. The hostility unraveled in social media posts, interviews, and lyrics. While Rap beefs come and go in the culture, not many result in actual acts of violence. Yet, authorities claim these two crews practiced what they preached, and it has erupted in the deaths of at least two people: King Von and Lul Pab. Von was gunned down outside of a nightclub in November 2020 following a reported altercation between his group and Quando Rondo’s associates. Gunfire rang out, and Von was killed; however, Rondo’s team allegedly told police that they were acting in self-defense.
Timothy “Lul Timm” Leeks was later charged with the murder of Von. Rondo would address the incident in his lyrics, emphasizing that he and his friends weren’t the initiates of the fatal fray. Further, Quando’s public support for Timm following Von’s death was a noteworthy point of controversy—especially after Timm sat down for an interview with VladTV. While there, he detailed shooting King Von, stating that he fired at least four times before his gun jammed. You can check out that clip above.
Hip-hop culture isn’t the only group going wild over the allegations against Jay-Z, as an anonymous woman accused both him and Diddy of sexually assaulting her at a 2000 VMAs after party when she was just 13 years old. This proved to be a controversial situation not only because of the weight of these claims, but also due to folks questioning the Jane Doe’s story and pointing out supposed holes in her recollections. Dr Umar Johnson is the latest celebrity to speak out about this, and he took a pretty nuanced stance all things considered. He hopes the victim finds justice if she’s innocent, but if she’s fabricating this, he thinks that she might’ve prompted her own undoing by requesting a jury trial that could reveal if she’s lying or not.
“Now, in the civil suit paperwork, according to Tony Buzbee, what he read, her attorney based in Houston, Texas,” Dr. Umar Johnson began regarding the Jay-Z situation. “According to the civil suit, she demands a jury trial. That really caught me. I was surprised at that. She’s demanding a jury trial. Why am I surprised? Because if she’s demanding a jury trial, she’s going to have to take the stand. She has to testify!”
Furthermore, Dr. Umar Johnson explained that Jay-Z and Diddy can plead their Fifth Amendment rights to refuse to testify, since they are the ones whom the plaintiff accused. However, as for the accuser herself, her reported desire for a jury trial means that she cannot plead the Fifth and will most likely have to testify if it goes to a jury trial. While he questioned this move, he also made it clear that he doesn’t know whether she or Hov are lying or not, and that he is praying that she gets all that she wants if she really suffered this abhorrent event.
Then, Dr. Umar Johnson claimed that racism is what caused the court to deny Diddy’s bail for a third time. His argument pointed to Vince McMahon, whom authorities still haven’t arrested, as an example with similar allegations of this presumed double standard. Dr. Umar also posited that this is a “loud message” to Black celebrities such as Jay-Z that they will face a takedown if they do not comply with the industry.
There’s still a lot of fallout to wade through when it comes to the sexual assault lawsuit against Jay-Z, which alleges that he took advantage of a 13-year-old girl at a 2000 VMAs after party. Not only does this relate to the barrage of legal updates in this case, but also to how much it divided, shocked, and invigorated hip-hop culture to discuss it. For example, Memphis Bleek recently called Van Lathan out for speaking about Hov’s presumed guilt, and it’s clear that he’s sticking by the Roc. “N***as really tried the god [goat emoji] #MarcyDontRaise Those!!” he tweeted along with some bullseye emojis quote-tweeting the following message: “You a b***h a** n***a for automatically peddling bulls**t, implying that Jay-Z is guilty. @VanLathan.”
“Oh I can actually reply to you,” Van Lathan responded to Memphis Bleek’s scolding over the Jay-Z lawsuit. “The other page has me blocked. I i no way shape or form said he was guilty or innocent. I said they were allegations that would be very hard to prove. Go check the pod. Y’all got c*m in ur ears from d**kriding.”
Furthermore, this is far from the first time that Memphis Bleek has publicly supported Jay-Z as of late, whether against Van Lathan or otherwise. For example, he backed up the music mogul’s assessment that artists angry at him aren’t angry over what Jay did to them, but rather what Jay didn’t do for them. This radio interview comment resurfaced when Nicki Minaj was going hard at him on social media, and this new darker context also paints them under a particular light. We’re sure that at least a few more defenses and rebuttals will come as this accusation develops in court.
Speaking of which, Jay-Z wants to dismiss the whole thing as fast as possible, so despite Memphis Bleek and Van Lathan’s difference of perspective, they might all land under the same lens. These heavy and very serious allegations formed a bit of a circus online, which will hopefully redirect into more engaged and genuine fan concern. With a narrative as salacious as this, people will always want to dig deeper.
