An author who says she had sex with Jay-Z and appeared in one of his videos has spoken out about the bombshell allegation that he raped a 13-year-old.
Elizabeth Oveson’s memoir, Video Vixen, chronicled hip-hop’s underground world of sex and drugs and cast an unflattering light on some of its biggest names.
She said that the allegations against Jay-Z, which he has furiously denied, were part of a larger pattern, telling the Daily Beast that it was a consequence of the MeToo movement.
“None of this is shocking, and it’s all part of the same movement,” said Ovesen in an email to the Daily Beast—referencing the 2017 #MeToo movement, which she said caused a “chain reaction.”
“I’m not sure why people are separating this wave of Black music executives/artists from the original #MeToo investigations and arrests,” added Ovesen. “From (Bill) Cosby, (Harvey) Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and the hundreds in between—they’re all connected.”
Jay-Z has fiercely denied a civil lawsuit’s claims that he participated in the rape of a 13-year-old girl with Combs at a party following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, describing them as a “blackmail attempt” by the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
When news of the lawsuit broke on Dec. 8, the rapper promptly responded in a fiery statement posted on Instagram: “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a real criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
He added, “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.”
Carter’s stringent denial, however, isn’t stopping Ovesen from speaking out about the case.
Then known as Karrine Steffans, a 21-year-old Ovesen appeared in Jay-Z’s music video for his 2000 hit song “Hey Papi.” She then went on to share in her book that she had a relationship with the Roc Nation mogul, real name Shawn Carter, and more famous names in hip-hop social circles—including being “gifted” to embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“They all know the same people with few degrees of separation between them. They have the same handlers, go to the same parties, share each other’s jets, yachts, and islands, and they abide by the same lawless code,” said Ovesen. “What we’ve seen lately with (P. Diddy), and now Carter isn’t a different set of events.”
Ovesen said she believes there are “still hundreds more men to be accused, found guilty, and fall.” And that’s not including the women who helped.
“Ghislaine Maxwell wasn’t the only one,” she added. “With society finally understanding the basic definitions of sexual, physical, and emotional coercion and abuse, I hope to see more abusive men and women in this, and all industries being held accountable.”
In her lawsuit, the unnamed plaintiff alleges that she tried to get into the VMAs, held that year at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, but was denied entry. She claims a limousine driver working for Combs later approached her with an offer to attend an afterparty with numerous celebrity guests, which she accepted.
Once the teen arrived, she claimed to have been given a drink that made her sick after just a few sips—after which she laid down in an empty bedroom.
Soon after, Carter and Combs allegedly burst into the room and proceeded to rape her, with Combs shouting: “you are ready to party!”
She escaped after a few minutes and said she ran to a nearby gas station to call her father, who picked her up shortly after.
The woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, has represented over 120 people who have accused Combs of sexual misconduct.
First filed in October, the suit originally named Combs alone and referred to two other celebrities being present, named only by pseudonyms.
Buzbee alleged that he requested a “mediation” with Jay-Z before naming him in the suit.
