Jay-Z makes surprise appearance at Mufasa: The Lion King premiere one day after rape allegations

Jay-Z, AKA Shawn Carter, has made a surprise appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King, the day after he faced allegations he had raped a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000.

Jay-Z walked the red carpet with his wife Beyonce Carter-Knowles and daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who both have voice roles in the Disney film. Mufasa: The Lion King is Blue Ivy Carter’s, 12, acting debut.

Dressed in a plum suit, Jay-Z also posed for photos with his family, including his mother-in-law, Tina Knowles.

The Knowles-Carter family was not expected to attend the Los Angeles premiere, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They were not confirmed to make an appearance. Jay-Z had attended the 2019 premiere of The Lion King.

On Monday, it emerged Jay-Z’s name has been added to a lawsuit against Combs which was filed in October.

The alleged victim, named only as Jane Doe, claimed she had attended an after-party for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards where she was given a drink that made her woozy.

She then claimed that she was lying down in a room when, soon afterward, Combs and Jay-Z entered. She alleged Jay-Z raped her while Combs and an unnamed female celebrity watched. She also alleged Combs then raped her while Jay-Z and the female celebrity looked on.

In a strident statement, Jay-Z denied all accusations.

“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one. Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?

“These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.”

He added in a response posted to social media, “(The lawyer) had calculated the nature of the allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect. It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a very public fashion.

“So, no, I will not give you one red penny.”

Combs is in custody pending a trial set for May on three felony charges, racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs has denied all charges and allegations against him.

Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel origin story about Simba’s father, voiced in the original film by James Earl Jones, framed within a follow-up to the 2019 live-action/CGI remake of the 1994 film.

Knowles-Carter voiced Nala in the 2019 film and Blue Ivy Carter takes on the role of Nala and Simba’s daughter, Kiara.

The film is directed by Moonlight filmmaker Barry Jenkins with original sons by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and will be released in Australia on December 19.