Sean "Diddy" Combs, the renowned hip-hop mogul, faces fresh allegations of rape and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed on Wednesday.
This marks the fourth legal action against him, with serious accusations that have sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, as per USA Today.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces Sexual Assault Allegations
The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous Jane Doe, alleges that Combs and two other men gang-raped her in a New York recording studio in 2003 when she was just 17 years old and a junior in high school. According to the court documents obtained by USA TODAY, the plaintiff met two of Combs' associates at a lounge in the Detroit area.
She was then flown on a private plane to New York, where, as per the suit, she was given substantial amounts of drugs and alcohol and subsequently raped by the three men in the studio's bathroom while drifting in and out of consciousness.
In a harrowing account, the woman described falling into a fetal position in pain after the assault and being flown back to Michigan with little memory of her return journey. The lawsuit includes images of the woman, with her face blurred, reportedly in Combs's music studio, adding to the gravity of her claims.
Combs, in response to the allegations, has strongly denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, he expressed his resolve to fight against the accusations, stating, "I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family, and for the truth." His lawyers have also denied the allegations in the three earlier suits.
Douglas H. Wigdor, the lawyer representing the unidentified woman, emphasized the severity of the allegations, describing them as part of a sex trafficking scheme that preyed on a vulnerable high school teenager, according to The New York Times.
Diddy's Legal Woes, Image and Business at Stake
The recent lawsuit follows on the heels of another filed by Casandra Ventura, a singer formerly signed to Combs's label, who accused him of rape and other abuses. That case was settled quickly, but it paved the way for other accusers to come forward.
This series of allegations has significantly impacted Combs's public image and business dealings. Recently, he stepped down as chairman of Revolt, his cable TV network. Additionally, Diageo, the alcoholic beverage giant, cited Combs's "now-toxic image" in a court filing, stating his inability to continue as the 'face' of its DeLeón tequila brand.
These lawsuits were filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act and the city's Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act, both of which allow survivors of sexual assault to file civil suits beyond the statute of limitations.
The unfolding legal battles against Combs have brought renewed attention to issues of sexual assault and power dynamics in the entertainment industry, particularly as more individuals find the courage to tell their stories. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how it will affect Combs's career and the broader conversation around accountability in cases of sexual violence, The Guardian reported.
