u. You're always doing something different with your hair,  Santiago allegedly said, according to court documents.

Weeks later, at a joint Father's Day event and birthday party for Bryan and Nas' daughter, Santiago allegedly approached Bryan to apologize again.  Santiago's repeated explanation that he had not known it was Ms. Bryan did not make the assault consensual, accidental, or lawful,  the lawsuit claims.  It reinforced that Santiago understood he had crossed a line and sought to excuse his conduct only after recognizing who she was. 

Bryan claims that although she stayed silent publicly for years, she disclosed the alleged assault to Jay-Z, a trusted confidante and with whom she had a secret on-off relationship for years. A  protective  Jay-Z allegedly  reacted strongly and threatened to confront Santiago personally,  but fearful of the matter escalating, Bryan asked Jay-Z not to get involved, according to the lawsuit. (Rolling Stone reached out to a representative for Jay-Z for comment.)

In court papers, Bryan says she decided to pursue civil action against Santiago after reading the domestic violence and sex trafficking lawsuit that Casandra  Cassie  Ventura brought against Sean Combs in November 2023.

 Learning of that filing triggered Ms. Bryan's own traumatic memories of Santiago's assault,  the lawsuit alleges. Bryan reportedly began experiencing flashbacks, and she struggled to eat or sleep.  The public nature of the assault magnified the injury,  the lawsuit claims.  It was not only the physical violation. It was being grabbed, overpowered, and sexually humiliated in front of friends and strangers, in the orbit of an industry where women were often expected to absorb male misconduct in silence. 

According to court documents, Bryan told Santiago about her forthcoming lawsuit in March and sought to settle the matter privately. Santiago allegedly denied knowing Bryan, leading her to file her lawsuit.

Bryan is suing Santiago under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. She is seeking compensatory damages as well as damages for emotional distress and mental anguish.

This article was originally published on Rolling Stone.