Who was Jay Z dating in 2000? Relationship history explored amid VMAs sexual assault lawsuit

Jay Z is facing accusations of sexual assault after an alleged victim claimed that the rapper and Sean “Diddy” Combs sexually assaulted her at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. The victim is being represented by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. Jay Z has denied the allegations in an official statement as of the time of this article.

The initial complaint, which was filed in October, named only Combs as the defendant. However, NBC News reported that the lawsuit has since been amended to include Jay Z as well.

The alleged victim, referred to as Jane Doe, stated that she was offered a drink at the New York afterparty. She claimed to have felt “woozy” and “lightheaded” afterward and was later sexually assaulted in a bedroom by both celebrities.

During the period of the alleged assault, Jay Z, whose legal name is Shawn Corey Carter, was rumored to have just begun his relationship with Beyoncé. 

In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé shared: “We were friends for a year and a half before we went on any dates. We were on the phone for a year and a half, and that foundation is so important for a relationship. Just to have someone who you just like is so important, and someone [who] is honest.”  

Beyoncé also mentioned in an interview with Seventeen magazine that she was 18 years old when she met Carter, which would place their first meeting between September 1999 and August 2000.

Before he began dating Beyoncé, Jay Z was rumored to have been in a relationship with singer Blu Cantrell. According to The Richest, the two were casually involved during the 1990s. After their split, Cantrell reportedly congratulated Jay Z and Beyoncé on the birth of their first child.

The Roc Nation founder was also briefly involved with Charli Baltimore, a lawyer-turned-musician, in the late 1990s. The Richest noted that Baltimore previously dated Notorious B.I.G. as well.

In 2000, Jay Z reportedly dated actress, singer, and writer Rosario Dawson. Their relationship ended when he began developing feelings for Beyoncé.

Prior to his relationship with Beyoncé, Jay Z was also rumored to have dated both Aaliyah and designer Rachel Roy. His alleged involvement with Roy sparked controversy online, as it was rumored he had an affair with her while married to Beyoncé.

According to The Richest, this rumored affair was believed to be the cause of the infamous elevator altercation between Jay Z and Beyoncé’s sister, Solange Knowles, at the 2014 Met Gala. Beyoncé appeared to address the rumors in her Lemonade album, where she seemingly referenced Roy by singing about “Becky with the good hair.”