NFL-Goodell says no change to NFL’s relationship with Jay-Z amid rape allegations

By Rory Carroll

(Reuters) – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday stated the league is conscious of a lawsuit that accuses musician Jay-Z of rape however stated it’s not impacting the NFL’s partnership with the rap mogul’s Roc Nation label, which produces the Tremendous Bowl halftime present.

An amended civil lawsuit filed in federal courtroom on Sunday alleges Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped a 13-year-old woman throughout a celebration in New York in 2000. Jay-Z and Combs have denied the allegations.

“We’re conscious of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s actually sturdy response to that,” Goodell stated after the conclusion of the league’s winter conferences in Texas.

“We all know the litigation is going on now. From our standpoint, our relationship just isn’t altering with them, together with our preparations for the following Tremendous Bowl.”

Roc Nation has helped produce the previous 5 Tremendous Bowl halftime reveals and Jay-Z’s spouse, Beyonce, is scheduled to carry out at halftime of the upcoming Ravens vs. Texans sport on Christmas Day in Houston, in keeping with Sports activities Illustrated.

The lawsuit was initially filed in October within the Southern District of New York and at the moment didn’t title Jay-Z as a defendant, although the amended lawsuit says that Jay-Z was recognized as “Movie star A” on the unique grievance.

Jay-Z, whose actual title is Shawn Carter, has blasted the lawsuit, calling it a part of a “blackmail try” by the plaintiff’s lawyer.

Tony Buzbee, the Texas lawyer representing the woman who filed Sunday’s lawsuit, has filed at the least 20 civil lawsuits towards Combs accusing him of sexual misconduct.

Buzbee stated Jay Z’s relationship with the NFL had nothing to do with him.

“My job is to signify my purchasers zealously and ethically. And that’s what I intend to do,” he stated in response to a request for remark.

Combs has denied all allegations towards him. He’s at the moment in jail on federal intercourse trafficking prices, to which he has pleaded not responsible.

The lawsuit alleges that the unnamed woman was drugged and raped by each Jay-Z and Combs at a celebration hosted by Combs following the MTV Music Awards in 2000, which was held in New York.