Music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs faces two new lawsuits in New York, each accusing him of abusive behavior in incidents dating back nearly two decades. The first case involves an alleged assault on a young child in a New York hotel in 2005, while the second centers on a teenage contestant aspiring to appear on Diddy’s television show Making the Band in 2008. These cases add to a growing list of accusations against Combs spanning over 20 years.
Diddy’s legal team dismisses claims as false
In response to the latest allegations, Combs’ attorneys vehemently denied the claims, suggesting that Anthony Buzbee, the attorney representing the alleged victims, is pursuing these cases for publicity. Buzbee is also handling several other cases involving similar accusations against Combs. “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process,” reads a statement from Diddy’s legal team. “In court, the truth will prevail that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”
Combs faces broader allegations following September arrest
Combs, 54, is currently in custody in New York, following his arrest on September 16. He faces charges of allegedly coercing women into sex work and threatening them to remain silent. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The first of the two recent lawsuits recounts a 2005 incident involving a young boy who, along with his parents, traveled from California to New York hoping to advance his career as an actor and rapper. According to the complaint, during a meeting arranged with Combs, an associate allegedly gave the child a drink laced with an unidentified substance. The suit claims that after losing consciousness, the boy awoke to find himself threatened into silence under the warning that his parents would be harmed if he disclosed what occurred.
Second Case: Making the Band audition allegedly turns traumatic
The second lawsuit involves a teenager auditioning for Combs’ reality TV show Making the Band in 2008. According to court filings, Combs and a bodyguard allegedly coerced the 17-year-old into unwanted sexual acts throughout a three-day audition. When the teenager refused to participate further, he was reportedly dismissed from the show and, as a result, allegedly blacklisted from the music industry for the next seven years.
These cases are filed under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, a law allowing individuals to pursue legal action regardless of the time elapsed since the alleged incidents. As Combs prepares to face these mounting accusations, his legal team maintains his innocence, emphasizing their faith that the judicial process will exonerate him in the end.