Jay-Z attends Lion King premiere with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter after rape denial
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Jay-Z was seen out with his wife, Beyoncé, and their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, just a day after he publicly rejected a serious accusation of rape.
Music mogul Shawn Carter, who is 55 years old, was present at the red carpet event for Disney's latest musical drama, Mufasa: The Lion King, on Monday, December 9. The film features voice performances by Beyoncé, 43, and her daughter Blue Ivy, 12.
He and his family seemed to be in high spirits, smiling and waving at the cameras, joined by Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother.
On Sunday, December 8, the rapper strongly rejected accusations that he and Sean "Diddy" Combs drugged and assaulted a 13-year-old girl at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000.
A federal lawsuit that initially named only Mr. Combs was refiled on Sunday, now including allegations from a woman referred to as "Jane Doe." She claims that both music moguls assaulted her while an unidentified female celebrity was present.
Mr. Carter characterized the lawsuit brought by lawyer Tony Buzbee as an attempt at blackmail and dismissed the accusations against him as ridiculous.
"We don't engage in those kinds of activities. We uphold strict values and integrity. We prioritize the safety of children, while it appears you take advantage of others for your own benefit," he stated.
"Only your group of conspiracy theorists and pseudoscientists would buy into the ridiculous accusations you've made against me. If it weren't for the serious issue of protecting children, these claims would actually be funny."
He expressed, "The only thing that truly hurts me is for my family. My wife and I will need to speak with our children, especially since one of them is at an age where her friends will likely come across the news and start asking about these allegations. We’ll have to help them understand the harshness and selfishness of others."
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Mr. Buzbee took to social media to address the situation, stating: “Mr. Carter has already claimed that he wasn’t the one who filed a lawsuit against me and my firm. He submitted his baseless case using a fake name.”
In his latest statement, he neglects to mention that my company sent a demand letter to his lawyer on behalf of someone who claims to be a victim, yet that individual never asked him for any money. What she actually wanted was a private mediation process.
"After I sent the letter for her, Mr. Carter not only decided to take legal action against me, but he has also attempted to intimidate and bother both me and the plaintiff. However, his actions have had the reverse effect. She's feeling more confident and determined than ever. I’m really proud of her strength."
Mr. Combs is currently incarcerated after facing charges in September related to sex trafficking and racketeering, to which he has entered a plea of not guilty. He has rejected all claims made against him, including the most recent lawsuit.
A message from his legal representatives noted that the revised lawsuit is just the latest in a series of “outrageous publicity tactics aimed at getting money from famous people who are afraid of falsehoods being circulated about them, similar to the falsehoods directed at Mr. Combs.”
At the premiere, Mr. Carter flashed a peace sign for photographers as he strolled down the red carpet alongside his family.
Later on, he and Beyoncé were seen sharing a laugh while assisting their daughter with the train of her dress as they arrived at the premiere.
Blue Ivy is set to make her film debut in "Mufasa: The Lion King," where she will lend her voice to the character Princess Kiara. This character originally appeared in the animated Disney sequel, "The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride."
She is the oldest daughter of Queen Nala, a character that Beyoncé will return to play, having first taken on the role in the 2019 film The Lion King. Actor and musician Donald Glover will also return to portray Simba.
Beyoncé honored her daughter on Instagram with a heartfelt message: “My beautiful girl, tonight is all about you. You put in so much effort and did an amazing job voicing Kiara. Our family couldn't be more proud of you. Keep shining brightly.”
