Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faces six new sexual abuse lawsuits, including allegations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy at a party in 1998.
The lawsuits filed in federal court in New York are the first in what is expected to be a flurry of litigation by attorney Tony Buzbee, who says he represents at least 120 victims of Combs and his employees.
Combs, who has been in jail since Sept. 16 on charges related to racketeering, transportation for prostitution and sex trafficking, could also face a superseding indictment that amends the previous indictment with more allegations, prosecutors said last week.
Although federal prosecutors have so far not alleged any child sexual abuse by Combs, one of the lawsuits filed Monday alleges that a 16-year-old boy was invited to Diddy's White Party in 1998 in the Hamptons, where he was abused. sexually in a private room.
The lawsuit includes a photo of Combs and a blacked-out photo of the young man, and alleges that Combs took him to a private area to chat. The teen was apparently interested in launching a music career, but admitted his voice wasn't very good, according to the lawsuit. Combs assured him that didn't matter and made it clear that “the only thing that mattered was looking right for the industry,” the suit says.
The lawsuit alleges that Combs told the boy, identified only as John Doe, to drop his pants and expose his penis so Combs could inspect it, explaining that it was a rite of passage and the route to becoming a star, and also how a way to prove yourself.
“Don't you want to go into business?” The lawsuit quotes Combs telling the teen. The young man immediately felt uncomfortable, froze and didn't know what to do.
“Out of fear, anxiety, and the unbalanced power dynamic between him and Combs, John Doe dropped his pants and exposed his penis as Combs had previously instructed him,” according to the lawsuit.
“Combs reached out and grabbed John Doe's penis and genitals with his hand. “He grabbed and firmly held John Doe’s genitals for an extended period of time,” the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit alleges: “Combs abruptly released John Doe's genitals and told him his people would be in touch.”
The six lawsuits were filed in the Southern District of New York on behalf of three men and three women, none of whom are named in the filings. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between 1995 and 2021 and all claim the plaintiffs were sexually assaulted and/or raped.
A woman alleged that in 1995 she was at a promotional party at Elks Plaza in New York City for rapper Biggie Smalls' “One More Chance” music video and ended up in a bathroom with Combs.
The lawsuit alleges that after she resisted, “he violently punched her, hitting her head against the wall and causing her to fall to the floor. Disoriented and in pain, the plaintiff tried to escape, but Combs hit her again, making it nearly impossible for her to move. Combs then lifted her dress and raped her…”
In another lawsuit, an unnamed man alleged that he worked for Ecko Clothing in May 2008 and encountered Combs and his bodyguards in the warehouse of Macy's flagship store in New York and alleges that they pistol-whipped him and then forced him to performing oral sex on Combs.
Buzbee, a Houston-based personal injury attorney, said his firm expects to file cases on behalf of 120 people, an equal number of men and women, who allege they were exploited. He said he would name other celebrities involved.
Combs' attorneys have not responded to the new lawsuits. But when Buzbee announced his representation of the accusers, Combs' attorney, Erica Wolff, responded with a statement, denying any wrongdoing on Combs' part.
“As Mr. Combs' legal team has emphasized, it cannot address all of the baseless allegations in what has become a reckless media circus,” the statement said. “That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court when lawsuits are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”
Buzbee has alleged that many of the accusers he spoke to were high on drugs and one of them was a 9-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually abused by Combs and others while the boy was auditioning at Bad Boy Records in New York City.
The allegations mirror some details of the 14-page indictment released last month that accuses Combs of luring female victims to engage in “extortion,” or elaborate sexual performances, involving male sex workers that sometimes lasted days and sometimes lasted for days. They were recorded. Combs and his associates, the indictment alleges, used violence, coercion, drugs and bribery to get women to participate in the phenomena and keep the incidents secret.
Prosecutors say the victims feared they would be subjected to violence or that their careers or finances would be harmed if they refused to participate. Buzbee said some of his clients have already been in contact with the FBI.
Lawsuits against Combs began last year after his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, accused him of rape, sexual assault and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors have alleged that Combs led an elaborate scheme that would have required several people to not only know about the behavior but also be involved in recruiting victims, preparing hotel rooms with baby oil, drugs and extra bedding for the victims. crazy, and cleaning up afterwards. .
“Combs did not do all of this alone,” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in announcing the charges. “He used his business, the employees of that business and other close associates to get his way.”
