Reputation War: Jay-Z and Victims' Attorney Tony Buzbee
Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z — and attorney Tony Buzbee — best known for representing women in civil cases involving sexual wrongdoing, are throwing communication haymakers towards each other.
Buzbee, who provided legal services for over two dozen women against NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson. is now doing the same for those claiming they were victimized in the Sean Combs — P Diddy or Diddy to many — scandal. Carter has also been named by people as a perpetrator in predatorial sexual behavior.
The two are at fully engaged in a reputation and lawsuit war with one another.
Buzbee has accused Carter's Roc Nation of using "shadowy operatives" to solicit Buzbee's former clients to flip and sue him, Katie Balevic reported at Business Insider.
The attorney offered his explanation of Roc Nation’s legal chess move.
"These folks have stooped to a new low to try to intimidate the lawyers of the Buzbee Law Firm from doing their important work,” Buzbee told Business Insider, adding that, “This conduct was specifically targeted at our firm so we would not pursue cases related to the Diddy litigation. But, we will not be bullied or intimidated."
Buzbee's lawsuit accused Roc Nation of financing the scheme, and other defendants, including two legal firms, an attorney, and an investigator, of orchestrating and executing it, Balevic reported.
Buzbee communicated that he learned that the Jay-Z’s team committed a crime by impersonating Texas state officials, including showing badges. In addition, in at least one instance, the alleged perpetrators "offered as much as $10,000 to a former client of the Buzbee Law Firm, to sue the firm."
Roc Nation wasn’t going to allow these accusations to go without a response.
"Tony Buzbee's baloney lawsuit against ROCNATION is nothing but another sham,” a spokesperson said. “It's a pathetic attempt to distract and deflect attention. This sideshow won't change the ultimate outcome and true justice will be served soon.”
Carter became involved after allegations from an anonymous woman who filed a case against him and Combs, stating that the two men raped her when she was 13, while all of them were at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards after party.
Buzbee is her attorney. Carter was shocked at and denies the allegations, calling the attorney a "deplorable human."
"I promise you,” Carter wrote about Buzbee on Roc Nation’s X account, “I have seen your kind many times over. I'm more than prepared to deal with your type.”
Who’s Telling the Truth?
Each one of us may have personal bias that leads us to lean towards siding with Carter or the unnamed woman and her legal representative, Buzbee.
There is a lot of dark, thick smoke and some will argue, fire, around Carter’s name and so it would seem to many people that the allegation against him in this lawsuit is certainly plausible. Others will say that lawyers are notorious for shakedowns in civil suits, playing dirty to score large or excessive financial settlements.
Setting those mindsets aside, from the communication between the enemies in the story, who is more likely or most likely to be telling the truth?
Is it strictly a binary decision of all the truth lying on one side or the other or at least the primary facts and evidence being with the woman and Buzbee — or Carter and Roc Nation? Or is it more nuanced, yet still favoring one “side?”
Is this a case of a guilty man — Carter — and his legal team trying to play victim and posturing, to protect his reputation and business interests, knowing that they can win in court because Buzbee and his client can’t satisfy the burden of proof?
Is it a case of Carter, for whatever sexual misconduct wrongdoing he may have committed in his life, not being guilty of this particular allegation (and there has been reporting that a misidentification could be possible)?
Is Buzbee, regardless of what someone might think of money-and-status motivated attorneys, helping a person with little power to advocate for herself against a billionaire, his business and powerful, high-paid attorneys?
Is the woman involved honest, courageous and a survivor — or is she the opposite?
All questions that could be, hopefully will, evolve into clarity and answers.
This newsletter — Reputation Intelligence — is written by Michael Toebe, and is a product of Reputation Intelligence - Reputation Quality, a firm which helps individuals and organizations assure a greater peace of mind, provide stress relief through reliable decision analysis, consulting, advisory and communications.
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