Sean “Diddy” Combs has been below investigation for not less than a yr after being accused of sexual assault by a number of folks.
The rapper and music mogul, 54, made headlines in November 2023 after his ex-girlfriend Cassie accused him of sexual abuse in a bombshell lawsuit. She accused Diddy of beating her, forcing her to take medicine and have intercourse with male prostitutes on digicam. She alleged that the incidents occurred at Diddy’s houses throughout the U.S.
Within the lawsuit, Cassie additionally claimed that Diddy threatened to explode Child Cudi’s automotive after she had moved on with him following their 2018 break up. (Cassie has been married to Alex Wonderful since 2019.)
Diddy’s lawyer Ben Brafman denied the accusations on his behalf on the time, stating that Cassie’s lawsuit was “riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ status and [is] searching for a payday.”
The case was settled simply at some point after Cassie’s submitting. “I’ve determined to resolve this matter amicably on phrases that I’ve some stage of management,” she advised Us Weekly in an announcement by her lawyer Douglas Wigdor. “I need to thank my household, followers and legal professionals for his or her unwavering help.”
In an announcement of his personal, Diddy stated: “Now we have determined to resolve this matter amicably. I want Cassie and her household all one of the best. Love.”
Scroll down for a timeline of Diddy’s sexual assault authorized troubles:
November 2023
Following Cassie’s case settlement, a 2004 New York Journal interview with Kimora Lee Simmons resurfaced, wherein she claimed that Diddy “threatened to hit her” whereas she was pregnant. The interview famous that Diddy “finally obtained down on his knees in public to apologize.” (Kimora is a mom to 5 youngsters, whom she shares with a number of companions. Diddy didn’t deal with her feedback on the time.))
Diddy was quickly hit with one other lawsuit from a girl named Joi Dickerson-Neal. In courtroom docs obtained by Us filed on November 23, Dickerson-Neal claimed that the musician “drugged, sexually assaulted and abused” her when she was a university pupil in 1991 and was a sufferer of “revenge porn” Diddy created and launched. Diddy’s spokesperson known as the lawsuit a “cash seize” in an announcement to CNN.
December 2023
An nameless lady, dubbed Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit in opposition to the music mogul claiming she was sex-trafficked and gang-raped by Diddy and different males when she was 17 years previous in 2008. She allegedly flew out to satisfy him in New York Metropolis and was given “copious quantities of medication and alcohol” earlier than the lads pressured themselves on her, in accordance with courtroom docs obtained by Us.
Diddy declared that “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” in an announcement to Us on the time, including, “For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched folks attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my status and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made in opposition to me by people searching for a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged. I’ll battle for my title, my household and for the reality.”
February 2024
Diddy as soon as once more denied any wrongdoing after being accused of sexual assault in one other lawsuit, this one filed by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. Jones alleged that in his time residing and touring with Diddy from September 2022 to November 2023, he witnessed and recorded Diddy and his employees “participating in severe criminal activity.” Jones claimed he was sexually assaulted by Diddy in additional than one of many rapper’s houses, in addition to on a yacht rented by Diddy.
Diddy known as Jones — who was searching for $30 million in damages — “a liar” in an announcement by his lawyer Shawn Holley. “Now we have overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies. We’ll deal with these outlandish allegations in courtroom and take all acceptable motion in opposition to those that make them,” Holley added.
March 2024
Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami houses have been raided in reference to a federal intercourse trafficking investigation by Homeland Safety. Diddy was not current at his houses on the time of the raids however was later discovered boarding a non-public jet at a Miami airport. Two of his sons have been reportedly detained within the raid on his L.A. property however have been launched with out fees.
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level pressure as search warrants have been executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Diddy’s lawyer Aaron Dyer stated in an announcement to Us, denying that any of his members of the family had been arrested. “There is no such thing as a excuse for the extreme present of pressure and hostility exhibited by authorities or the best way his youngsters and staff have been handled.”
Following the raids, it was revealed that Diddy’s eldest son, Justin Combs, was named in an amended grievance filed by Jones. Within the courtroom docs, obtained by Us, the phrase “intercourse trafficking” was talked about 50 instances. Reps for Justin stated in an announcement that he “categorically denies these absurd allegations,” per NBC Information.
April 2024
Diddy’s youngest son, Christian “King” Combs, was accused of sexually assaulting a girl who labored on a yacht Diddy chartered for a 2022 journey in a Los Angeles County Superior Court docket lawsuit. The girl, Grace O’Marcaigh, additionally accused King of sexual harassment and emotional misery and Diddy for aiding and abetting.
Diddy’s lawyer Dyer slammed the lawsuit in an announcement to Us. “Now we have not seen this lady’s declare however I’m certain we will anticipate the identical form of manufactured lies … simply as we noticed in Rodney Jones’ lawsuit — which has but to be served.”
Later that month, information broke that Diddy’s alleged drug mule, Brendan Paul, was arrested for cocaine and marijuana possession. Paul was later charged with one felony rely of drug possession. (Paul averted jail time however was ordered to enter a six-month drug diversion program the next month.)
Might 2024
Lower than per week after Diddy filed a movement to dismiss Jane Doe’s December 2023 lawsuit in opposition to him, CNN launched safety footage from 2016 allegedly exhibiting Diddy bodily assaulting Cassie in a now-closed Los Angeles resort. Within the clip, Diddy was proven allegedly hitting and kicking Cassie, in addition to throwing an object at her.
The Los Angeles District Lawyer’s workplace defined in an announcement that Diddy couldn’t be charged for the safety footage “because the conduct would have occurred past the timeline the place a criminal offense of assault could be prosecuted.”
Diddy addressed the footage in an Instagram video, telling followers, “My habits on that video is inexcusable. I take full duty for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted.” Although he didn’t point out Cassie by title, he captioned the put up, “I’m sorry.”
A member of Cassie’s authorized crew, Meredith Firetog, criticized Diddy’s apology video in an announcement to Us. “When Cassie and a number of different ladies got here ahead, he denied every thing and instructed that his victims have been searching for a payday,” she stated. “That he was solely compelled to ‘apologize’ as soon as his repeated denials have been confirmed false reveals his pathetic desperation, and nobody shall be swayed by his disingenuous phrases.”
Cassie addressed the safety video in a prolonged social media assertion, writing, “Thanks to everybody that has taken the time to take this matter significantly. My solely ask is that EVERYONE open you hear to believing victims the primary time. It takes a variety of coronary heart to inform the reality out of a scenario that you simply have been powerless in.”
Might 2024
Diddy continued to face extra allegations after a girl named April Lampros accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her a number of instances in a brand new lawsuit. The alleged abuse occurred after she met Diddy in NYC in 1995 throughout her time as a pupil on the Style Institute of Know-how.
Lampros’ lawsuit alleged that she was as soon as pressured by Diddy to have intercourse along with his late ex-girlfriend, Kim Porter, as he watched and that the music mogul recorded one among their sexual encounters with out her data.
Diddy moved to dismiss Lampros’ case in August 2024, arguing that a few of her claims have been time barred and didn’t apply to New York permitting earlier intercourse offenses to be prosecuted. Lampros filed a cross-motion one month later, asking for permission so as to add extra particulars to her case concerning the alleged time barred claims.
Diddy was additionally accused of sexual assault by mannequin Crystal McKinney for an alleged incident that occurred in 2003. In her lawsuit, McKinney claimed that Diddy pressured her to carry out oral intercourse regardless of denying his development and that she was subsequently blackballed from the modeling business. (Diddy’s crew didn’t reply to Us’ request for remark for both lawsuit on the time.)
McKinney, Dickerson-Neal and Jane Doe got here ahead about their experiences in a Rolling Stone report. “It isn’t about cash,” Dickerson-Neal advised the outlet of their respective lawsuits in opposition to Diddy. “It’s about ensuring the world sees that this man who rose to the extent of an ‘icon’ is definitely sick and has left so many victims in [the wake of his] unpunished disgusting habits for years.”
August 2024
Adria English filed a felony grievance in opposition to Diddy after accusing him of intercourse trafficking her from 2004 to 2009 in a July 2024 lawsuit.
“Ms. English may be very excited and cautiously optimistic about her journey to justice beginning with the submitting of her civil lawsuit on July 3, 2024, and now with the submitting of a felony grievance with the Miami Seashore Police Division,” Ariel E. Mitchell advised Us in an announcement. “Ms. English hopes to file an extra felony grievance in New York however has been precluded thus far as New York requires a person to be in individual as a way to file a felony grievance.”
Diddy’s lawyer Jonathan Davis known as English’s accusations “baseless” in an announcement to Leisure Weekly one month prior, including, “Regardless of what number of lawsuits are filed, it gained’t change the truth that Mr. Combs has by no means sexually assaulted or intercourse trafficked anybody. We stay in a world the place anybody can file a lawsuit for any cause and with none proof. Luckily, a good and neutral judicial course of exists to search out the reality and Mr. Combs is assured he’ll prevail in opposition to these and different baseless claims in courtroom.”
September 2024
Former Danity Kane member Daybreak Richard filed a lawsuit in opposition to Diddy accusing him of sexual abuse, manipulation and terrorizing her. She additionally alleged that she witnessed Diddy abuse Cassie and Porter in entrance of her, and claimed Diddy promised to advance her singing profession if she gave into his sexual calls for following her time on MTV’s Making The Band.
One other of Diddy’s attorneys Erica Wolff famous that he was “shocked and dissatisfied” by the lawsuit in an announcement on the time. “It’s unlucky that Ms. Richard has forged 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 courtroom,” she added.
Later that month, Diddy was ordered to pay a $100 million default judgment for a civil lawsuit filed by a Michigan inmate who accused him of sexual assault. The default judgment was ordered after Diddy failed to seem in a digital listening to. Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith accused the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a 1997 get together in Detroit. Diddy proceeded to problem the ruling by submitting an emergency movement to vacate the default judgment. He additionally filed to dissolve a preliminary injunction and momentary restraining order.
With authorities apparently armed with needed proof to maneuver ahead, Diddy was arrested in NYC on September 16 after a grand jury indicted him on fees of intercourse trafficking and racketeering. The indictment accuses Diddy of abusing and threatening ladies to “to satisfy his sexual wishes, defend his status and conceal his conduct,” with some incidents courting again to 2009, in accordance with new paperwork.
“To take action, Combs relied on the workers, assets and affect of the multifaceted enterprise empire that he led and managed — making a felony enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and tried to interact in, amongst different crimes, intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice,” the indictment acknowledged.
Diddy plead not responsible to the intercourse trafficking and racketeering fees on the time.
“We’re dissatisfied with the choice to pursue what we imagine is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace,” his lawyer Marc Agnifilo advised Us in an announcement.
He added: “He’s an imperfect individual, however he isn’t a felony. … Please reserve your judgment till you will have all of the information. These are the acts of an harmless man with nothing to cover, and he seems to be ahead to clearing his title in courtroom.”
In the event you or somebody you already know has been sexually assaulted, contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). In the event you or somebody you already know are experiencing home violence, please name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential help.