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Sean “Diddy” Combs finds himself embroiled in a legal maelstrom, facing a barrage of allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday.
Among the accusations leveled against the hip-hop mogul is the claim that he coerced the plaintiff, identified as Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, into procuring sex workers and compelled him to participate in unwelcome sexual acts. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Mr. Combs distributed alcoholic beverages laced with drugs to unsuspecting attendees at parties hosted within the confines of his residences.
In the legal documentation, Mr. Jones asserts that he resided with and accompanied Mr. Combs extensively from September 2022 to November 2023. Throughout this period, Mr. Jones claims to have meticulously documented numerous instances of what he describes as “serious illegal activity” involving Mr. Combs, his entourage, and other individuals, amassing numerous video and audio recordings as evidence.
The seriousness of the accusations is magnified by the addition of alleged screenshots from events hosted at Mr. Combs’s homes. These images reportedly show gatherings filled with underage girls and sex workers, some of whom were supposedly served drinks covertly laced with drugs, allegedly at Mr. Combs’s direction.
Mr. Jones has not only singled out Mr. Combs in this legal battle but has cast a wide net ensnaring several other prominent individuals as defendants. Mr. Combs’s adult son, Justin Combs, his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam are all implicated in what Mr. Jones characterizes as a sprawling “RICO enterprise.” According to the lawsuit, this purported enterprise failed in its duty to monitor, warn, or curtail the actions of Mr. Combs, his son, and his chief of staff. The term “RICO enterprise” refers to any collusion of individuals or groups aimed at violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
Mr. Jones’s legal gambit seeks not only justice but substantial financial compensation, with a $30 million figure cited as the desired recompense for the alleged transgressions endured.
In response to these allegations, Mr. Combs and his legal team have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, decrying the claims as baseless. In a statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Comb’s attorney Shawn Holley said, “Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday. 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. Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored, as Mr. Blackburn refuses to return our calls. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them.”
Conversely, the plaintiff’s legal counsel, Tyrone Blackburn, has adamantly stood by the veracity of the allegations levied against Mr. Combs and his cohorts.
This lawsuit is the latest of a number of allegations leveled against Mr. Combs. In November 2023, singer Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, and Mr. Combs settled a lawsuit filed by Ms. Ventura alleging abuse and mistreatment by Mr. Combs. The settlement was announced by their attorneys, with no details disclosed. Ms. Ventura expressed her desire to resolve the matter amicably, while Mr. Combs wished her well. The lawsuit outlined allegations of abuse, coercion, and exploitation by Mr. Combs, which he vehemently denied. Despite the settlement, the specifics of the agreement remain private.
Since Ms. Ventura filed her lawsuit against Mr. Combs, two other women, Liza Gardner and Joie Dickerson-Neal, have also come forward with lawsuits alleging sexual assault by Mr. Combs. Additionally, a woman identified as Jane Doe in court documents claims she was gang-raped by Mr. Combs and two others when she was 17 and Mr. Combs was 34. These cases are still pending.
In December, Mr. Combs vehemently denied the allegations, stating that “enough is enough” and condemning the claims as “sickening.” He asserted his innocence, declaring, “I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family, and for the truth.”
The mounting accusations have begun to impact Mr. Combs’s reputation and business endeavors. Shortly after Ms. Ventura filed her lawsuit, three of Mr. Combs’s former artists publicly supported her. Subsequently, Mr. Combs stepped down as chairman of Revolt TV, and Hulu canceled a reality television show centered around his family. In January, Mr. Combs withdrew his lawsuit against Diageo as part of a settlement, accusing the spirits giant of racism.
The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Blackburn for a comment regarding the lawsuit. He has yet to respond to inquiries.
