Jay-Z and the rape allegations

Jay-Z and the rape allegations

Author: The Times December 18, 2024 Duration: 27:30

The rap mogul’s, whose real name is Shawn Carter, billion dollar empire is at risk after he was named in a civil lawsuit accusing him of raping a 13-year-old in 2000. Jay-Z was named alongside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Both men strongly deny the claims. So how did Jay-Z become a giant of American culture?


If you've been affected by issues in this podcast:

Victim Support provides emotional and practical help to victims or witnesses of any crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police. Phone: 0808 16 89 111 (24/7) Visit the Victim Support website

Rape Crisis England & Wales offers confidential support and information to women in England and Wales who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago. Also provides immediate support to friends and family on how to support female survivors of sexual violence. Phone: 0808 802 9999 (12–2:30pm & 7–9:30pm daily) Visit the Rape Crisis website


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Craig McLean, freelance arts journalist and contributor to The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Samantha Chantarasak.

Further listening: The P Diddy lawsuits: The downfall of a rap legend 

Read more: Jay-Z, Beyoncé and a billion-dollar hip-hop empire in jeopardy 

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

Clips: On The Red Carpet, Forbes, CBS, NBC News, CNN, UNICEF, MTV, BBC News, BBC Glastonbury. 

Music clips

Brooklyn’s Finest, JAY-Z, ℗ 1996 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC., Distributed by Equity Distribution, Roc-A-Fella.

Izzo (H.O.V.A.), JAY-Z, ℗ 2001 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC., Universal Music Group.

Dead Presidents II, JAY-Z, ℗ 1996 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC., Distributed by Equity Distribution, Roc-A-Fella.

Empire State Of Mind, JAY-Z ft. Alicia Keys, © 2014 S. Carter Enterprises, LLC., Distributed by Roc Nation Records, LLC. 

Sorry, Beyoncé, ℗ 2016 Parkwood Entertainment LLC, under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment, Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia. 

Photo: Getty Images 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
The aftermath of the German floods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:13
When parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany were hit by flooding earlier this month, it left a trail of devastation and over a hundred dead. As the flood waters subsided and locals dealt with the clean up…
Leaving Afghanistan (Pt 2): Handing victory to the Taliban [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:38
Veteran Times war correspondent Anthony Loyd hits the road with Afghan security forces… and meets the Taliban. The second of two episodes this week looking back at 20 years of war in Afghanistan, and forward to the count…
Footballers' wives: Wagatha Christie in the High Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:08
In 2019, Coleen Rooney, wife of former England football captain Wayne Rooney, accused Rebekah Vardy— also the wife of a prominent footballer or "Wag"— of leaking false stories about her private life. Rooney claimed to ha…
Mass shootings: This is America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:27
2021 is on track to be America's deadliest year for gun violence in two decades. With record numbers of mass shootings across the country, is the US finally ready to confront the problem?This podcast was brought to you t…
Police and tasers: The death of Dalian Atkinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
Five years ago, the death of an ex-footballer in the Midlands town of Telford made headlines. Last month, the officer who unlawfully killed Dalian Atkinson by tasering him to the ground and kicking him in the head, has b…
An interview with Michael Wolff: Inside the mind of Donald Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
The forty fifth president of the US, Donald Trump, will be talked about forever. Now, Michael Wolff in his new book: Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, exposes the chaos behind the scenes at the White Hou…
European Super League: A busted flush? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:13
Earlier this year football fans, politicians and royalty united against the breakaway European Super League. Today we reveal how the multibillion-pound plan was scuppered and ask: could it still be revived?This podcast w…
Football and the state of the nation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
The online racial abuse of some England players following Sunday's Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy has caused outrage across the country. What does the reaction to Sunday's result reveal about the state of our nation?Thi…
Covid and freedom day: Lessons from around the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
Despite a surge in coronavirus cases, Boris Johnson is set on lifting all restrictions on what's been dubbed as 'Freedom day' next Monday in England. Today, we look at three examples: Israel, The United States and Austra…