Music mogul Jay-Z, wife Beyoncé, daughter Blue Ivy and mother-in-law Tina Knowles were united at the premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King” at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, days after allegations were made of rape against the rapper.
The film, a pre-story to “The Lion King,” is Blue Ivy's first feature film. The burgeoning star will turn 13 in January. Beyoncé, who voiced the character Nala in the 2019 live-action remake, returns, as do a litany of other actors.
A beaming Jay-Z posed on the carpet alongside his family, notably standing next to Beyoncé in all the photos.
JAY-Z FILES DISMISSAL OF RAPE LAWSUIT WITH SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS, DEMANDS END TO 'EXTORTION SAGA'
Jay-Z accompanied his wife Beyoncé, daughter Blue Ivy and mother-in-law Tina Knowles to the Los Angeles premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King.” The film is Blue Ivy's first feature film. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
A lawsuit filed Sunday alleges that Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Corey Carter, raped a 13-year-old girl with Sean “Diddy” Combs at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.
The lawsuit, which was initially filed in October, was filed again Sunday in New York by an anonymous accuser who claimed Jay-Z “raped” her while Combs and “Celebrity B” watched. Initially, the lawsuit claimed that Combs raped the minor while “Celebrity A” and “Celebrity B” watched. Carter was identified as “Celebrity A” in the refiled lawsuit.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé smiled as they took photos with their eldest daughter, Blue Ivy. The couple also shares twins, Rumi and Sir. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Jay-Z fervently denied the allegations in a statement shared by his entertainment company, Roc Nation, accusing attorney Tony Buzbee, who filed the lawsuit, of blackmail. “These allegations are so egregious in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one! Whoever commits such a crime against a minor should be locked up, don't you agree? These alleged victims would deserve true justice.” If that were the case.”
In his statement, Jay-Z noted the pain these allegations would ultimately cause his children, including his eldest daughter, now at an age where her peers can easily access the news.
In a statement denying the rape allegations, Jay-Z said he and his wife would have to explain to their children “the cruelty and greed of people.” (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
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“My only anguish is for my family. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is of an age where his friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims and explain the cruelty. and the greed of the people,” he wrote.
“I mourn another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure something like this at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice intended to destroy families and the human spirit.”
A representative for Combs once again denied the allegations, saying in a statement to Fox News Digital: “This amended complaint and the recent racketeering lawsuit against Mr. Buzbee expose his barrage of lawsuits against Mr. Combs for what they are: “Blatant publicity stunts designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear lies will be spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.”
Tina Knowles denied liking any posts reporting that her son-in-law Jay-Z had been accused of rape. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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On Monday, the family faced more controversy after Tina Knowles appeared to have liked a post detailing the filing. “I was hacked!” he wrote on Instagram, without acknowledging the suspicious activity. “As you all know, I don't play with my family. So if you see anything unusual about me, know that it's not me!”
Knowles looked jovial on the carpet, standing next to Jay-Z.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” will be released in theaters on December 20.
Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter lend their voices to “Mufasa: The Lion King,” as Nala and Kiara, respectively. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
