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Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting an aspiring male singer in 2015, according to a new lawsuit brought against the embattled hip-hop mogul.
The lawsuit, which centers on the allegations of an unnamed man identified as John Doe, was filed Monday by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee in New York County Supreme Court, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. The man, who is suing Combs for sexual battery, is seeking a series of damages — in an amount to be determined at trial — to address the physical and emotional distress he’s allegedly suffered.
Doe, who reportedly had a burgeoning business relationship with the Bad Boy Records founder, alleges Combs’ assault took place at an after-party in Los Angeles when he was 23 years old. Combs had purportedly promised the young artist a record deal with Bad Boy and “studio time with Combs himself.”
“The conduct described herein is shockingly typical of how defendant Sean Combs conducted himself for many years,” the lawsuit reads. “SeanCombs believed he was above the law. He is not.”
In a statement to USA TODAY responding to the lawsuit, Combs’ attorneys said: “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”
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Combs was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The Grammy-winning rapper, who has denied all accusations against him, remains in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
His upcoming trial is scheduled to begin May 5.
Man alleges Diddy assaulted him at after-party after promises of career advancement
According to Monday’s lawsuit, Doe was an up-and-coming rapper and singer who had received “multiple invitations to open for well-known artists atvenues across California,” including a series of nightclub appearances in the LA area.
Combs reportedly attended Doe’s performance at QC’s 20/20 − a nightclub and concert venue in Montebello, California − because his record label was interested in the show. Before the young man took to the stage, a “longtime and well-known associate of Combs” allegedly informed Doe that Combs “had heard of his talent and would be watching him perform.”
Additionally, the unnamed Combs associate told Doe that if his performance was well-received by Combs, he would have the opportunity to land a record deal with Bad Boy Records and studio time with the hip-hop hitmaker.
Following his performance, Doe allegedly attended an after-party at the music venue, where he came across a bevy of drugs, alcoholic beverages and “well-known artists and entertainers, many of whom were partaking in drugs.”
The man alleges he was then sent an alcoholic drink by Combs himself, made with Combs’ vodka brand Ciroc. However, after drinking the beverage, Doe “quickly felt lightheaded” and later lost consciousness.
“While drifting in and out of consciousness, Doe observed Combs and his entourage engaging in group sexual activity, often with other attendees who appeared either drugged, unconscious, or as if they were paid escorts,” the lawsuit reads.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs allegedly threatened John Doe following assault
Amid his allegedly intoxicated state, Doe reportedly woke up “from a physical jolt” to find his pants had been removed and that the rapper was groping him. The filing notes that Doe believes Combs had been performing oral sex on him during the alleged encounter.
Although Doe reportedly attempted to resist Combs’ sexual advances, the music mogul allegedly threatened Doe, telling him he could “easily contact his manager and ruin any chances he had of succeeding in the music industry.”
After Combs allegedly requested that Doe have sex with a woman he didn’t know, Doe feigned compliance and told Combs he needed to use the restroom before engaging in the sexual act.
Instead of going to the restroom, Doe reportedly snuck out of QC’s 20/20 and left the venue. The man refrained from reporting the alleged incident out of fear of being “blackballed” in the music industry.
Several of Combs’ companies, including Bad Boy Records and Daddy’s House Recordings, are named in Doe’s lawsuit and accused of enabling the rapper’s alleged sexual misconduct by failing to, in part, “have sufficient policies and procedures in place to prevent sexual battery.”
In addition to derailing his career trajectory, the alleged assault left Doe with a series of personal damages, such as “pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment and emotional torment.”
“This assault greatly affected Doe’s passion for music, leading him to abandon his aspirations for many years,” the lawsuit states. “The reality and dark underbelly of the industry, as revealed through his encounter with Combs, ended his desire and dreams to pursue a career in that world.”
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
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