N.O.R.E. Sued for Sexual Assault by Carmen Bryan

Key Points:

• Carmen Bryan, an entrepreneur and partner of rapper Nas, has accused Queens-born rapper N.O.R.E. (Victor Santiago) of sexually assaulting her at a Manhattan nightclub in 1999, according to a lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone.
• Bryan alleges that Santiago, while visibly intoxicated, forcibly committed nonconsensual digital penetration in front of her friends and ignored her pleas to stop, requiring intervention from others to pull him off her.
• The lawsuit claims Santiago later apologized after recognizing Bryan as Nas’ partner but asserts that this did not excuse or legalize the assault; Bryan also disclosed the incident privately to Jay-Z, who reportedly reacted strongly.
• Bryan decided to pursue civil action after being triggered by a similar high-profile lawsuit against Sean Combs and is suing under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, seeking compensatory and emotional distress damages.
• Santiago has denied knowing Bryan when she sought to settle the matter privately, and no public comment has been made by his representatives as of now.