Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of sexually assaulting teenager in new lawsuits
Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing new accusations of rape, sexual abuse, and sexual assault following the filing of several lawsuits on Monday.
A total of at least six lawsuits were submitted in federal court in New York by two women and four men, with allegations that date back from 1995 to 2021.
The anonymous accusers claim that some of the incidents occurred during parties hosted by Mr. Combs, which were attended by prominent celebrities and music artists.
Attorneys for Mr. Combs have denied the allegations, stating in a message to the BBC that he “has never sexually assaulted anyone—adult or minor, man or woman.”
Another lawsuit submitted on Monday features claims from a woman who alleges that Mr. Combs raped her in a hotel room in 2004 when she was a 19-year-old college student.
According to the lawsuit, she met the music mogul at a photoshoot, where he then invited her and a friend to attend a private party at his hotel. Once they arrived, the lawsuit alleges that Mr Combs “fondled, molested, and ultimately raped her” despite her repeatedly asking him to stop.
Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee, who is representing the accusers, said he is representing more than 100 people who plan to sue the rapper on allegations of sexual assault, rape and sexual exploitation.
Mr Buzbee said that some of the alleged victims include children. He said the lawsuits are being brought under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which allows victims to file older claims.
“We will let the allegations in the filed complaints speak for themselves, and will work to see that justice is done,” Mr Buzbee said in a statement after filing the lawsuits Monday.
“We expect to be filing many more cases over the next several weeks naming Mr Combs and others as defendants as we continue to gather evidence and prepare the filings.”
The lawsuits are the latest of more than a dozen that have been filed against Mr Combs recently, accusing the music mogul of assaults, rate and sexual extortion.
He has denied all civil and criminal claims against him.
Mr Combs is facing federal criminal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. A judge last week tentatively scheduled his trial to begin on 5 May 2025.
Mr Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York since his 16 September arrest. His lawyers have argued for his release until the trial, citing the jail’s “horrific” conditions.
A New York federal judge denied their request for bail, arguing that Mr Combs was a “serious flight risk”.
