Jay-Z is opening up extensively about his difficult past year in a rare interview, in which he also addresses the lawsuit filed against him in December of 2024.
In a since-dismissed suit, allegations of assault were levied against him in connection to the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs, although that lawsuit was eventually dropped by the accuser.
The lawsuit
“I was really heartbroken by everything that occurred,” the rapper, 56, told GQ. “We’re in a space now where it’s almost like consequence is not thought about enough. Because everything is so instant, you know what I’m saying?”
He continued: “That whole [lawsuit thing], that [expletive] took a lot out of me. I was angry. I haven’t been that angry in a long time, uncontrollable anger. You don’t put that on someone – that’s a thing that you better be super sure.”
“Even when we were doing the worst things, we had those kind of rules. There was a line: no women, no kids. You hear those sayings, but those are the things that I took from the street. We lived and died by that. So it’s strict for me, like it meant a lot to me.”
Family first
He also openly spoke about not wanting to go the settlement route when news of the lawsuit first dropped, noting that the very first person he spoke with about it was his wife Beyoncé, especially concerning the impact it would have on their kids, Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir.
“First of all, first I had to tell my wife. Let’s back up. I know the weight that this is going to bring on our family. I can’t do it. I would die,” he said of deciding not to opt for settling, especially noting how hard it was to deal with given the news came out the night of the Mufasa premiere, which marked now 14-year-old Blue’s movie debut.
© Getty Images“That’s a horrible thing to put on someone. It was released the night of my daughter’s premiere,” Jay-Z noted, but remained steadfast in his decision to still be there in Los Angeles with Beyoncé, 44, and Tina Knowles to support Blue during her big moment, the way she’d been there for him.
Daddy’s girl
“Our family, we are a tight unit,” he shared, especially looking back on one particular instance of support from his daughter that left him emotional. “Blue has this jersey with ‘Jay-Z’ on the back. She put it on one day.”
© Getty Images“She went to school with the ‘Jay’ [on her back]. I was just in the corner, like tears coming down. Seriously. To have that, it’s priceless,” he continued. “People can say that [they’ll always be there for you], but it’s very rare that you’re going to have to exercise it. And in the darkest moment for me, I got to see those sorts of things.”
Further speaking on fatherhood, he gushed about the little joys that come with being present for his kids and their daily routines, and how his life and work have so much more meaning because of his family. “It gives everything meaning, everything.”
© Getty Images“I’ll go cross-country, do what I have to do, and I’m back on the plane that night. I love taking them to school. I love picking them up. Everything means so much more.”
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