Billionaire media mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been facing accusations of violence and sexual abuse over the last six months. Despite vehemently denying these allegations and attributing them to individuals looking for monetary gain, Diddy’s denials have been called into question with the release of previously unseen footage from 2016 showing him violently assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. This footage substantiates claims made by Cassie in a lawsuit filed against him in November, which he settled the following day. This incident has spurred more accusers to come forward with lawsuits alleging violence and sexual abuse, leading to federal authorities conducting raids on properties connected to Diddy.
Throughout his career, Diddy has faced a number of legal troubles dating back to 1996 when he was found guilty of misdemeanor criminal mischief for using a gun to threaten a photographer. In 1999, record executive Steve Stoute accused Diddy of assaulting him over a dispute involving a music video, leading to a settlement and Diddy admitting guilt to harassment. Later in 1999, a woman claimed Diddy shot her in the face at a nightclub, although he was acquitted by a jury in 2001. Further lawsuits in 2001, 2007, and 2015 have also accused Diddy of assault and violent behavior.
In May 2017, Diddy’s former chef accused him of sexual harassment, claiming she was forced to work long hours and serve post-sex meals. This lawsuit was settled in February 2019. More recently, in September 2022, a music producer accused Diddy or his son of being involved in a shooting at a recording studio in Los Angeles, leading to accusations of a cover-up. The floodgates opened in November 2023 when Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Diddy of rape, sexual abuse, and violence throughout their relationship. Despite settling the lawsuit the day after it was filed, other accusers have come forward with similar accusations of sexual assault, rape, and sex trafficking against Diddy.
One accuser, Joi Dickerson-Neal, alleges that Diddy raped her in 1991 and showed recorded footage of the assault to others. Another Jane Doe accuses Diddy and singer Aaron Hall of raping her in the early 1990s. A third Jane Doe claims that Diddy, along with former Bad Boy Records President Harve Pierre, gang raped and sex trafficked her in 2003 when she was only 17 years old. In February 2024, producer Lil Rod filed a lawsuit accusing Diddy of sexual harassment, grooming, and running a racketeering enterprise, which contains allegations of serious illegal activity with supporting audio and video evidence.
The legal troubles culminated in a bicoastal raid by the Department of Homeland Security’s investigation division on properties linked to Diddy in Los Angeles and Miami in March 2024. The details of the raid have not been disclosed, but it is reportedly linked to a sex trafficking investigation. Diddy’s attorney condemned the raid, calling it a “witch hunt” based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. The ongoing legal battles and allegations against Diddy have raised questions about his conduct and behavior throughout his career in the music industry.
