Sean "Diddy" Combs, American rapper and hip-hop mogul, is facing another legal battle as Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, a music producer, filed a lawsuit against him on Monday in New York federal court, alleging sexual harassment and trafficking.
Jones claims that he was coerced into engaging in sex acts and procuring sex workers for Combs over the span of a year while working on the artist's latest album, 'The Love Album: Off The Grid.'
$30M Lawsuit Filed Against Sean Combs
The lawsuit, which seeks at least $30 million in damages, accuses Combs of a pattern of sexual misconduct, including unwanted touching and drugging.
In the lawsuit, Jones has detailed his involvement in the creation of Combs' album 'The Love Album: Off the Grid,'which spanned 2022 and 2023. Jones asserts that during this time, he served as a producer on nine tracks of the album and resided with Combs for extensive periods.
However, amid his professional duties, Jones alleges enduring a series of sexual harassment and assault incidents at the hands of Combs.
The complaint states that Combs subjected Jones to unwanted advances, including grabbing his genitals without consent, and engaging in persistent and unauthorized groping and touching of his anus.
These alleged acts of harassment and assault reportedly occurred while Jones lived with Combs at residences spanning Florida, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as on a yacht rented by Combs in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Jones further claims that the harassment extended to his workspace, alleging that he was compelled to work in Combs' bathroom while the hip-hop mogul showered naked in a glass enclosure.
Jones alleges that he was drugged by Combs on one occasion, waking up confused and naked in bed with two sex workers and Combs himself. Additionally, Jones claims that Combs attempted to "groom" him into having sex with another man, asserting it was a common practice in the music industry.
The legal complaint incorporates purported screenshots from gatherings held at Combs' residences, allegedly featuring underage girls and sex workers. Some attendees were allegedly given beverages spiked with drugs at Combs' instruction, as per the lawsuit.
Combs' Legal Team Denies Allegations
In response to the allegations, Shawn Holley, a lawyer for Combs, vehemently denied the accusations, labeling Jones as a liar seeking an undeserved payday.
"Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday," Holley stated "His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies."
Jones' complaint also implicates several other individuals, including Combs' chief of staff, Kristina Krorram, his son Justin, Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam, alleging their involvement in a RICO enterprise aimed at profiting from Combs' alleged crimes.
This lawsuit adds to the mounting legal challenges against Combs, who has previously been sued by four women alleging sexual assault.
One of the plaintiffs, Cassie (Casandra Ventura), Combs' former partner and artist, accused him of repeated rape and physical abuse over nearly a decade. The lawsuit was settled shortly after it was filed, with Combs denying any wrongdoing.
Following the filing of Cassie's lawsuit, several of Combs' former artists publicly supported her, and there have been repercussions in his business ventures, including his resignation as chairman of Revolt TV and the cancellation of a reality television show by Hulu.
