N.O.R.E. has responded to the sexual assault allegations made against him in a new lawsuit. The complaint was filed by Carmen Bryan in New York City on Wednesday, September 9. The rapper, whose real name is Victor James Santiago Jr., denied the claims on Thursday, September 10.
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N.O.R.E. Responds To Lawsuit — Denies Sexual Assault Allegations
The Shade Room reported that Bryan filed a lawsuit accusing a drunken Santiago of sexually assaulting her at a nightclub back in May 1999. Bryan is the mother of Nas’ daughter, Destiny Jones. According to Rolling Stone, the ‘Da Hustla‘ artist was allegedly “visibly intoxicated” when he approached her inside a Manhattan nightclub. N.O.R.E is accused of committing an “act of nonconsensual digital penetration” in the lawsuit.
The rapper denied the claims with a post in his Instagram Stories, and he also accused Bryan of lying while bringing up her memoir about her sexual escapades with celebrities.
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“The allegations by Ms. Bryan about invented interactions with Mr. Santiago from nearly three decades ago are entirely false,” reads the post. “It should be noted that Ms. Bryan has a long history of making salacious and contested claims about public figures.”
“This includes a 2006 ‘tell-all’ book where she provided excruciating detail about her personal vendettas and sexual encounters with celebrities. Yet nowhere in this ‘tell-all’ (or her 2018 book, Life After Child Support: When The Checks Stop Coming) did she mention Mr. Santiago or anything resembling this alleged incident. We will defend Mr. Santiago from this legally groundless lawsuit and look forward to exposing Ms. Bryan’s fabrications in court as we clear Mr. Santiago’s good name.”
Bryan wrote the 2018 book “LIFE AFTER CHILD SUPPORT: When The Checks Stop Coming,’ A short cautionary tale about overcoming financial dependency and creating your own wealth.” She also wrote the 2006 book ‘It’s No Secret: From Nas to Jay-Z, from Seduction to Scandal–a Hip-Hop Helen of Troy Tells All.’
Carmen Bryan’s Sexual Assault Accusations
Carmen’s complaint states that the artist “physically overpowered” Bryan as N.O.R.E. allegedly ignored her instructions to stop until he was pulled off by other guests at the club.
“Santiago’s conduct constituted nonconsensual sexual contact, offensive touching, assault, battery, sexual assault, and gender-motivated violence,” alleges the lawsuit.
In addition the complaint claims that the rapper followed Bryan after she left the club while allegedly stating, “Don’t you know who I am?” Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that the rapper apologized once he recognized Bryan under a streetlight.
“Carm, I didn’t know it was you,” he allegedly said. “You’re always doing something different with your hair.”
Bryan also claimed in the lawsuit that he apologized again at a Father’s Day/birthday party for Nas and Destiny.
“Santiago’s repeated explanation that he had not known it was Ms. Bryan did not make the assault consensual, accidental, or lawful,” the lawsuit states. “It reinforced that Santiago understood he had crossed a line and sought to excuse his conduct only after recognizing who she was.”
Fans Respond With Mixed Reactions
Fans reacted to the lawsuit and N.O.R.E.’s denial after it was shared on TSR’s Instagram page, and many were skeptical of Carmen Bryan’s claims. However, others wondered if it was true.
