Whereas Sean “Diddy” Combs has fervently denied ex-girlfriend Cassie’s rape and assault allegations, a number of ladies have come ahead with related claims of alleged misconduct by the music mogul.
Us Weekly confirmed in November 2023 that Cassie (actual identify Casandra Ventura) filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape and repeated bodily abuse that lasted practically a decade. Cassie and Diddy dated on and off from 2007 to 2018.
“After years in silence and darkness, I’m lastly prepared to inform my story, and to talk up on behalf of myself and for the good thing about different ladies who face violence and abuse of their relationships,” Cassie mentioned in a press release.
Cassie’s legal professional Douglas Wigdor additionally alleged that Diddy supplied his shopper “eight figures” in a bid to “silence her.” Cassie denied his supposed payday.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Photographs Sean “Diddy” Combs and ex-girlfriend Cassie weathered many ups and downs throughout their romance earlier than parting methods for good in 2018. Whereas Cassie (actual identify Cassandra Ventura) has since married Alex High quality and turn out to be a mom, her relationship with Diddy hasn’t stopped making headlines. The New York Instances reported in November 2023 […]
Diddy refuted Cassie’s allegations in a press release offered by his lawyer. “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations,” Ben Brafman informed Us. “For the previous six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, underneath the specter of writing a harmful guide about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Regardless of withdrawing her preliminary risk, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to submitting a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s repute and in search of a payday.”
Following Cassie’s grievance, a number of different ladies got here ahead with new or past accusations, together with Danity Kane’s Aubrey O’Day and Kimora Lee Simmons.
In March 2024, a number of of Diddy’s properties, together with properties in Miami and Los Angeles, were raided by Homeland Security in connection to a intercourse trafficking investigation.
A rep for each Cassie and an nameless plaintiff suing Diddy released a statement in response to the raids: “We are going to at all times assist legislation enforcement when it seeks to prosecute people who have violated the legislation. Hopefully, that is the start of a course of that can maintain Mr. Combs accountable for his wicked conduct.”
Hold studying for extra particulars concerning the allegations in opposition to Diddy:
Cassie
Cassie’s lawsuit got here with a “set off warning” discover on the high, noting that her claims contained “extremely graphic data of a sexual nature.” Cassie asserted in her submitting that Diddy typically tried to regulate her once they had been relationship by taking medicine, bodily hurting her and forcing her to have intercourse with male prostitutes on digicam. She additionally claimed that Diddy compelled his manner into her house in 2018 and sexually assaulted her.
In response to Cassie, Diddy additionally threatened to blow up Child Cudi’s automotive. Cudi, who Cassie began relationship throughout considered one of her splits from Diddy, corroborated her claims to The New York Instances. Cudi’s rep asserted that the rapper’s car did explode after Diddy’s warning.
Diddy denied all of Cassie’s claims.
At some point after submitting the lawsuit, Cassie confirmed to Us by way of her legal professional Douglas Wigdor that she and Diddy had reached a settlement.
“I’ve determined to resolve this matter amicably on phrases that I’ve some stage of management,” the November 17 assertion learn. “I wish to thank my household, followers and legal professionals for his or her unwavering assist.”
Diddy additionally launched a press release distributed by way of Window, telling Us, “We’ve got determined to resolve this matter amicably. I want Cassie and her household all one of the best. Love.”
Following the settlement, legal professional Neama Rahmani solely informed Us that the case was probably settled so rapidly was as a result of “Cassie ran out of time,” noting that a few of her allegations had been “a bit bit older.”
Rahmani went on to clarify {that a} New York statute of limitations legislation about submitting civil lawsuits and sexual assault circumstances was set to shut days after Cassie’s submitting. “Cassie was up in opposition to the clock and the events actually had been unable to finalize their negotiations earlier than that window was going to shut,” he shared. “So, she was compelled to file a lawsuit.”
Almost six months after the duo settled their lawsuit, CNN obtained video footage of Diddy allegedly assaulting Cassie in 2016. Within the clip, Diddy wore solely a towel and appeared to seize Cassie by her neck.
“The gut-wrenching video has solely additional confirmed the disturbing and predatory habits of Mr. Combs,” Wigdor informed Us in a press release after the footage resurfaced. “Phrases can’t categorical the braveness and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has proven in coming ahead to convey this to mild.”
Diddy later apologized for his actions. “My habits on that video is inexcusable. I take full duty for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted,” he mentioned by way of Instagram. “I went and sought out skilled assist. I’ve been going to remedy, going to rehab. Needed to ask God for his mercy and style. I’m so sorry, however I’m dedicated to being a greater man every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m actually sorry.”
Kimora Lee Simmons
In 2004, a then-pregnant Simmons was profiled by New York journal when she attended the Manhattan Metropolis Heart’s profit efficiency of The Owl and the Pussycat. The interview referred to an alleged previous incident the place “Kimora mentioned one thing to Combs and he threatened to hit her.” Per the profile, Diddy “finally received down on his knees” to publicly apologize.
Kimora Lee, who was married to Russell Simmons on the time, accepted Diddy’s apology. “I respect him for being a fierce entrepreneur and I respect understanding that every little thing he does is emulating my husband,” she informed the outlet.
Whereas Hollywood might seem like all glitz and glam on the floor, the business has seen its justifiable share of scandals by way of the years. The New York Instances and the New Yorker first revealed investigative items in 2017 that accused disgruntled film producer Harvey Weinstein of many years of sexual assault and harassment. Quickly after, Weinstein stood trial and was […]
Gina Huynh
Huynh, often known as Virginia V, claimed throughout a 2019 interview on “Unwine With Tasha K” that Diddy bodily assaulted her at one level throughout their five-year relationship.
“He stomped on my abdomen actually arduous — like, took the wind out of my breath,” she alleged. “I couldn’t breathe. He stored hitting me. I used to be pleading to him, ‘Are you able to simply cease? I can’t breathe.’”
In response to Huynh, Diddy additionally grabbed her by the hair and began “punching” the again of her head. “He was mentally, emotionally and bodily abusing me. He would at all times examine me to Cassie and inform me that I’m the unhealthy one, she’s a great one,” added Huynh.
Diddy by no means publicly addressed Huynh’s claims.
Aubrey O’Day
O’Day first crossed paths with Diddy when she auditioned for his MTV collection Making the Band 3. Diddy selected her to begin Danity Kane alongside Daybreak Richard, Shannon Bex, D. Woods and Aundrea Fimbres. The woman group was instantly signed to Diddy’s label Dangerous Boy Information. Throughout Making the Band 4, Diddy revealed that O’Day had been kicked out of the band however claimed there was no unhealthy blood.
O’Day beforehand informed Us her facet of the story in July 2019.
“Diddy broke us up within the peak of our fame on nationwide tv, on MTV,” she claimed to Us. “I wish to speak about what we’re going by way of as a result of I feel what Danity Kane has gone by way of since then is so highly effective for ladies, for individuals, for artists. We’ve got needed to be taught every little thing the arduous manner since we had been damaged up by [Diddy] on nationwide tv.”
Throughout a 2022 interview on Alex Cooper’s “Name Her Daddy” podcast, O’Day claimed she was fired from Danity Kane as a result of she “wasn’t prepared to do what was anticipated of [her] — not talent-wise, however in different areas.” In September 2023, O’Day additional claimed that Diddy requested her to signal an NDA in change for Danity Kane’s publishing rights.
“I’ve to launch him for any claims or wrongdoings or actions previous to the date of the discharge,” she alleged on the “OnlyStans” podcast. “I’ve to signal an NDA that I’ll by no means disparage Puff, Dangerous Boy, [Diddy’s mom] Janice Combs, or Justin Combs Music, or EMI, or Sony ever in public.”
O’Day has since been a vocal advocate for Cassie following her lawsuit. “Cash > accountability. Each time,” present wrote by way of her Instagram Story in reaction to Cassie and Diddy’s November 2023 lawsuit settlement. “Welcome to a different chapter of the system is effectively in place 💔.”
Joi Dickerson-Neal
Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit in opposition to Diddy in New York Supreme Court docket in November 2023. In response to court docket docs obtained by Us on the time, Dickerson-Neal claimed the musician “drugged, sexually assaulted and abused” her throughout her time as a school scholar in 1991 and claimed Diddy created and distributed “revenge porn” that includes her in it.
Within the lawsuit, Dickerson-Neal recalled showing in a single his music movies whereas finding out at Syracuse College. The duo allegedly went out to dinner following the video shoot, after which Dickerson-Neal claims Diddy “deliberately drugged” her and assaulted her at his house. Dickerson-Neal alleges that Diddy filmed the incident and shared the footage with others.
Dickerson-Neal sued Diddy for “substantial and lifelong accidents,” in addition to financial compensation for “psychological and emotional harm, misery, ache and struggling and harm to her repute.”
A spokesperson for Diddy denied Dickerson-Neal’s allegations in a press release to CNN on the time, calling her claims “made up and never credible” and “purely a cash seize.” The assertion continued: “Mr. Combs by no means assaulted her, and he or she implicates firms that didn’t exist.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs. Paras Griffin/Getty Photographs
Jane Doe
In December 2023, an nameless plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, accused Diddy of sex-trafficking and gang-raping her in 2008 in a Southern District of New York lawsuit. Doe, who was simply 17 years outdated on the time of the alleged incident, mentioned she was flown to New York Metropolis by Diddy to fulfill with him.
Throughout their time collectively, Doe says Diddy and his buddies compelled themselves onto her after giving her “copious quantities of medicine and alcohol,” based on court docket docs obtained by Us.
“As alleged within the grievance, Defendants preyed on a susceptible highschool teenager as a part of a intercourse trafficking scheme that concerned plying her with medicine and alcohol and transporting her by non-public jet to New York Metropolis the place she was gang raped by the three particular person defendants at Mr. Combs’ studio,” Doe’s legal professional, Douglas H. Wigdor, informed Us in a press release on the time. “The depravity of those abhorrent acts has, not surprisingly, scarred our shopper for all times.”
Diddy as soon as once more denied any wrongdoing, telling Us in a press release, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” He continued: “For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched individuals attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my repute and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made in opposition to me by people on the lookout for a fast payday.”
He ended his message by emphasizing he “didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,” including, “I’ll combat for my identify, my household and for the reality.”
Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones
Jones sued Diddy for $30 million in damages in February 2024, accusing the rapper of drugging, threatening and sexually assaulting him for greater than a yr. In court docket docs obtained by NBC News, Jones alleged that whereas dwelling with Diddy from September 2022 to November 2023, he recorded audio of the rapper partaking in “severe criminality” with buddies and colleagues. The music producer additionally claimed he was sexually harassed and assaulted by Diddy within the artist’s Florida, Los Angeles and New York properties and a yacht Diddy rented within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In response to the lawsuit, the extent of Jones’ assaults and harassment included “fixed unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching of his anus.”
Diddy’s legal professional Shawn Holley referred to as Jones a “liar” in a press release to Us. “Lil Rod is nothing greater than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit, shamelessly on the lookout for an undeserved payday,” he said. “His reckless name-dropping about occasions which might be pure fiction and easily didn’t occur is nothing greater than a clear try to garner headlines.”
Holley went on so as to add that Diddy and his crew have “overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies” and that the “outlandish allegations” can be addressed in court docket.
In March 2024, Jones amended his grievance to incorporate Cuba Gooding Jr. as a defendant. Whereas the unique submitting accused the actor of sexually harassing and assaulting Jones on a yacht that Diddy rented, Gooding wasn’t initially included as one of many individuals being sued.
The lawsuit alleged that Diddy tried to “go off” Jones to Gooding when leaving them alone collectively in a studio on the boat. “Cuba Gooding Jr. started touching, groping, and fondling Mr. Jones’ legs, his higher internal thighs close to his groin, the small of his again close to his buttocks and his shoulders,” Jones’ lawsuit alleges, per court docket docs obtained by USA Today, additional claiming that Diddy “didn’t step in and cease” Gooding from assaulting Jones.
Us Weekly reached out to Gooding for remark.
Jones’ amended swimsuit was filed the identical day that a number of of Diddy’s properties had been raided by Homeland Security in connection to a intercourse trafficking investigation.
Crystal McKinney
In a Could 2024 lawsuit, the mannequin accused Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her after they allegedly met in 2003. In response to court docket paperwork obtained by TMZ, McKinney claimed that Diddy introduced her to his music studio after a vogue week occasion.
Whereas in a room along with his colleagues who had been ingesting and smoking, McKinney took successful of a blunt she claimed felt “very highly effective” that made her really feel like she was floating. She alleged that Diddy demanded that she observe him into the toilet the place she claimed he compelled himself on her. McKinney claimed that Diddy kissed her earlier than placing his crotch in her face and demanded that she “suck it.”
McKinney mentioned she refused Diddy’s development however she claimed the music mogul pushed her head down and compelled her to carry out oral intercourse.
Daybreak Richard
Daybreak Richard Neilson Barnard/Getty Photographs for The Recording Academy
In September 2024, the Danity Kane member filed a lawsuit accusing Diddy of manipulating, terrorizing and sexually abusing her.
In response to court docket paperwork obtained by Us Weekly, Richard accused the producer of promising to advance her singing profession if she gave in to his calls for.
In response to the lawsuit, Diddy’s legal professional Erica Wolff launched a press release, telling Us, “Mr. Combs is shocked and upset by this lawsuit. In an try to rewrite historical past, Daybreak Richard has now manufactured a collection of false claims all within the hopes of making an attempt to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide along with her album launch and press tour. If Ms. Richard had such a destructive expertise with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she wouldn’t have chosen to proceed working instantly with Mr. Combs for Soiled Cash, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album final yr. It’s unlucky that Ms. Richard has solid their 20-year friendship apart to attempt to get cash from him, however Mr. Combs is confidently standing on fact and appears ahead to proving that in court docket.”
New York Indictment
On September 17, 2024, Diddy was indicted on charges of intercourse trafficking and racketeering.
The indictment accuses the music mogul of abusing, threatening and coercing ladies for years “to satisfy his sexual needs, shield his repute and conceal his conduct.”
“We’re upset with the choice to pursue what we imagine is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace,” Diddy’s legal professional Marc Agnifilo informed Us Weekly in a press release. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving household man and confirmed philanthropist who has spent the final 30 years constructing an empire, adoring his kids and dealing to uplift the Black group.”
Agnifilo added, “He’s an imperfect individual, however he isn’t a legal. To his credit score, Mr. Combs has been nothing however cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York final week in anticipation of those expenses. Please reserve your judgment till you’ve all of the information. These are the acts of an harmless man with nothing to cover, and he appears to be like ahead to clearing his identify in court docket.”
The indictment contains allegations listed again to 2009.
Jay-Z’s alleged involvement
Jay-Z was accused of raping a 13-year-old woman in 2000, as detailed in a civil lawsuit that was initially filed in opposition to Diddy alone in October, and refiled so as to add Jay-Z’s identify on December 8.
The accuser, who remained nameless and was solely recognized as “Jane Doe,” claimed the assault occurred at an after get together for the MTV Music Video Awards.
Jay-Z mentioned in a press release to Us on December 8 that he denied the allegations lodged in opposition to him. “My lawyer obtained a blackmail try, referred to as a requirement letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the character of those allegations and the general public scrutiny would make me wish to settle,” Jay-Z wrote on the time. “No sir, it had the alternative impact! It made me wish to expose you for the fraud you might be in a VERY public vogue. So no, I cannot provide you with ONE RED PENNY!!”
For those who or somebody you recognize has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
