Sundaymail Editor
JAY-Z has officially filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who accused him of assault and her attorney, Tony Buzbee, following the emergence of a controversial audio recording.
The case, which also involves Sean “Diddy” Combs, has taken a dramatic turn as new evidence casts doubt on the credibility of the allegations.
An audio recording obtained by the media and later shared by Rolling Stone reportedly features the woman admitting to private investigators that Jay-Z did not assault her.
She also suggests that Buzbee pressured her into pursuing legal action against the rapper. The conversation, recorded at her Alabama home, has ignited intense debate over the legitimacy of the claims.
Buzbee, who has handled multiple lawsuits against Combs, dismissed the recording as misleading, accusing Jay-Z’s team of manipulating the woman’s statements. He released a separate audio clip in which the woman denies ever retracting her allegations.
Further inconsistencies have surfaced in her testimony, including conflicting statements about individuals present at the party and the events following the alleged incident.
These discrepancies, along with claims about the woman’s mental health history, have fuelled speculation about the case’s credibility.
Jay-Z, in his legal filing, stated that Buzbee attempted to pressure him into a settlement, likening the situation to being held at gunpoint. — Wires
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Julia Roberts’ marriage under scrutiny
Julia Roberts, known for her role as a runaway bride, may now be facing a situation where her husband has seemingly “disappeared”.
Danny Moder’s constant absence has raised concerns about the state of their marriage.
Roberts (57) recently travelled to Paris, where she received an honorary César award, the French equivalent of the Oscars.
She was also awarded the insignia of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French minister of culture, an honour recognising individuals who have made a significant impact on the arts.
While Roberts’ fans showed up in droves to support her, her husband, Danny Moder (56), was noticeably absent.
“Everyone’s gotten used to Julia flying solo, but this was a big deal and it was kind of sad to see Danny was not there to see such a historic event,” said an insider.
Moder, a cinematographer, is more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. The couple met on the set of “The Mexican” in 2000 and married two years later.
While he remains supportive, Moder has not been seen at Roberts’ side for a formal event since the Kennedy Centre Honours in 2022. Some speculate recent professional setbacks may have contributed to his absence.
There are growing concerns that Roberts and Moder are at a crossroads in their marriage and may be “living separate lives” .
However, Roberts and Moder, who share three children, are known for keeping their family life private. — Wires
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Lady Gaga’s mental health confession
Lady Gaga has revealed the unsettling truth about her experience with fame.
The 14-time Grammy winner discussed the “horror” of losing her identity throughout her career while explaining a powerful song on her new album, “Mayhem”.
On a television show, the host asked Gaga (38) to explain the meaning behind her new song “Perfect Celebrity”, which explores her complex relationship with Hollywood.
“I think, in a way, when I was writing, I was feeling like there was the real me and there was the clone me,” she said. “It is kind of one of the angrier songs I have ever written.”
The singer-turned-actress then shared how the song reflects her feelings of “anger towards herself” for choosing to enter the industry. When asked about the “horror of fame”, Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, said she had “lost her sense of self” at one point.
“There’s a high I used to get from being in the public eye all the time and it kind of burnt me out and made me value what people thought of me over who I was in my everyday life,” she elaborated.
“Ultimately, it was my responsibility to start to value myself differently.”
Gaga explained that her mindset eventually led her to cultivate a “distorted way of thinking” about herself.
“I enjoy being there for the people I love, supporting others. I guess what I’m trying to say is that having everything revolve around me for such a long time created a warped sense of self,” she said.
In her song “Perfect Celebrity”, Gaga portrays herself as a “doll”, focused on pleasing others and seeking approval from external sources. Previously, the “A Star is Born” actress said the lyrics refer to “the idea that we all, in a way, have our real selves and then our clone version that we project to the world”.
In another recent podcast interview, Gaga opened up about her mental health struggles, confessing that she experienced psychosis five years ago.
“I was not deeply in touch with reality for a while. It took me out of life in a big way and after a lot of years of hard work, I got myself back,” she explained.
The “Bad Romance” hitmaker further described the dark period as “a time of deep emotional turmoil”. — Wires
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter