As soon as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was arrested on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in September, eyes began to wander towards his closest allies.

Combs is currently awaiting trial in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in New York and faces more than 120 allegations of sexual assault and abuse dating over a 30-year period. He plans to plead not guilty in court and has denied all allegations.

Knowing Combs on a personal level, then, is no longer the badge of honour it once was. Given his reputation as one of the most powerful and influential music moguls in the industry, and the host of the most notorious Hollywood parties, it’s a badge almost every A-list name has worn at some point over the years.

One such person is Jay-Z – whose real name is Shawn Carter – a close friend and collaborator of Combs’, who has been hit with a lawsuit alleging that he and Combs drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl at a party in New York in 2000.

The anonymous accuser alleges that she was assaulted at a house party after the MTV Video Music Awards and that an unnamed female celebrity was in the room at the time.

The lawsuit was filed on Sunday by Texas-based lawyer, Tony Buzbee, who has filed more than 100 lawsuits in recent months accusing Combs of assault and rape.

Carter has denied the allegations and dismissed the lawsuit on social media. ‘My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a “lawyer” named Tony Buzbee,’ the statement reads. ‘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.’

The accuser, who identified as ‘Jane Doe’ claims that when she was 13 years old a friend dropped her off at the VMAs in Manhattan where she approached limousine drivers outside the venue to try to gain access to the show.

One driver told her that he was employed by Combs and that she ‘fit what Diddy was looking for’, the lawsuit alleges. Later that evening, the chauffeur allegedly drove her to a party at a white house where she was asked to sign a document, which she believes was a non-disclosure agreement.

According to the lawsuit, the claimant recognised ‘many celebrities’ at the party and noticed a widespread use of drugs. She alleges that she was offered a drink that made her feel ‘woozy’ so found a room to lie down in. Soon afterwards, Combs and Carter allegedly entered the room along with an unnamed female celebrity and the accuser ‘immediately recognised all three celebrities’.

Combs then allegedly approached her with ‘a crazed look in his eyes’, grabbed her and said, ‘you are ready to party.’ The lawsuit then claims that Carter held her down and raped her, before Combs did the same, while ‘Celebrity B’ watched.

The plaintiff claims she fought back during the assault and escaped when Combs backed away. The civil lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and claims the accuser faces post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of the alleged rapes.

In Carter’s statement, in which he vehemently denies the allegations, he went on to say his ‘only heartbreak’ his for his family. Carter is married to Beyoncé Knowles, who he was dating at the time of the alleged rape, and they share three children together – two daughters and a son.

‘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.’

‘You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all “celebrities” are the same,’ he went on to write, in an apparent address to Buzbee. ‘I’m not from your world. […] I look forward to showing you just how different I am.’

Combs’ trial starts on 5 May 2025 and is likely to be one of the biggest sex trafficking trials in recent history, with several other A-list names rumoured to be implicated. A so-called ‘Diddy list’ of famous names with ties to the disgraced musician has recently circulated online, including names like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Lopez, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Brand, Megan Fox and Usher.

Aside from Carter, none of these names face any allegations, nor have they publicly commented on Combs’ active legal situation. It is not currently clear which of these names, if any, will be called to give evidence when the trial reaches court in May.

Buzbee previously said his lawsuits will expose those ‘who enabled this conduct behind closed doors’, which includes ‘many powerful people’.