Nelly speaks out on “false allegations” in new sexual assault lawsuit against him

Rapper Nelly is speaking out after a woman filed a new lawsuit against him on Thursday, claiming he sexually harassed her following one of his concerts in England last year.

The woman, who identified herself as Jane Doe, says, according to TMZ, that the rapper masturbated in front of her several times after his performance in Essex in December 2017. Nelly (real name Cornell Haynes Jr.) has been under criminal investigation by Essex police since February after the woman first went public with the allegations.

“I have been silent for a while,” 44-year-old Nelly said in a statement to PEOPLE. “But these baseless accusations hurt more than just me. The truth will come out and I will be vindicated.”

“These types of false allegations undermine genuine claims of sexual abuse/harassment made by real victims,” he continues.

RELATED VIDEO: Rapper Nelly denies sexually assaulting woman during tour after early morning arrest

In the documents obtained by TMZ, the woman claims Nelly asked her to stay and talk after she and her friends paid for a photo with him at a meet-and-greet. According to Jane Doe, Nelly then took her to a private room where he masturbated in front of her and forced himself on her without her consent.

The woman also claims that Nelly became aggressive and clenched his fist after she rejected his advances. When she asked him if he was going to hit her, he replied: “No, I’m just frustrated. I’m not used to not getting my way. Just do it.”

Nelly’s friend Shantel Jackson is also named in the lawsuit and accused of defamation for posting a statement on Instagram in January saying the anonymous woman’s claims were false because she was “at those venues, in the dressing rooms and on that tour bus” at the time of the alleged incident.

Nelly, however, believes that including Jackson here is “unfair and going too far.”

“Shantel has been through enough,” he said in the statement. “I am the father of a beautiful, strong woman. I was raised by a strong, single woman. I love them all very much.”

The alleged incident came just two months after another woman, Monique Greene, claimed Nelly raped her on his tour bus after a concert in Washington in October 2017. Nelly was subsequently arrested on suspicion of rape, but prosecutors dropped the case after Greene refused to testify and did not press charges.

After prosecutors dropped the charges, Greene filed a lawsuit against Nelly for sexual assault and defamation. Nelly then filed a countersuit.

“I own my actions and take responsibility for my behavior toward Monique Greene,” he says. “We had CONSENTIAL sex after meeting at a club. Period. I have lived in the spotlight my entire adult life. There have been no accusations or problems in the past. I knew better! And so I had to deal with the consequences of my poor decision. I am rebuilding the trust I broke with Shantel, I have apologized to my family and friends for the embarrassment I caused them. And I am determined to be a better person.”

“Monique (Greene) took civil action against me, even though no charges were filed or prosecuted,” he continues. “I responded with my own civil actions against her. Ultimately, we both agreed to drop our actions against each other.”

RELATED: Lawsuit against Nelly for sexual assault dropped: “There was neither an agreement nor a money transfer,” says lawyer

Nelly’s attorney Scott Rosenblum said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time that “both parties mutually agreed to drop the lawsuit. No settlement was reached and no money was exchanged.”

However, the plaintiff’s attorney, Karen Koehler, disputed Rosenblum’s claim that no money was exchanged between the two, calling this information “false” in a statement to The Blast.

Now Nelly claims that the same attorney who represented Greene filed the Jane Doe lawsuit in question.

“I do NOT plan to go away quietly,” he says. “I need to speak for my family and the real victims who are strong enough to come forward and confront the people who actually attacked them.”

He adds: “I want to thank Shantel, my family, friends and fans who have stood by me throughout and know my true character.”