New lawsuit against Diddy alleges abuse
AMERICAN music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing a new lawsuit alleging abuse and exploitation from a former contestant of his MTV show, Making the Band.
Singer Dawn Richard filed a complaint on Tuesday in the Southern District of New York against Combs and others associated with him.
e complaint alleges Combs mistreated women, was physically abusive and withheld Richard’s earnings.
Combs’ lawyer Erica Wolff said the rapper was “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit and called Richard’s claims “manufactured” and “false”. She said her client was “confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court”.
Richard was a member of the all-female group Danity Kane, which Combs formed through the reality show Making the Band. e show focused on contestants who competed to win a spot in his new group.
She later became a member of Combs’ band, Diddy — Dirty Money.
e new lawsuit accuses Combs of mistreating women and claims that Richard witnessed the rapper beating his former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura.
According to the complaint, Richard saw Combs physically abuse his ex-girlfriend on several occasions, including accounts of choking and strangling her.
e lawsuit lists multiple incidents of Richard allegedly witnessing Combs assaulting Ventura — often in public or in front of representatives from record labels who allegedly still agreed to make deals with Combs.
When she encouraged Ventura to leave the relationship, Richard said she was met with threats and verbal abuse from Combs, according to the complaint.
Ventura filed a federal lawsuit against Combs in 2023 accusing him of physical and sexual abuse. Combs paid Ventura an undisclosed sum of money, which settled the matter outside of court.
e lawsuit is among a string of sexual assault allegations that have been recently made against Combs, one of the most successful moguls in the history of rap music.
Combs has denied previous allegations against him, but apologised after a video surfaced of him assaulting Ventura.
Richard credits Ventura’s bravery for coming forward. — BBC Online.