Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing new charges of rape, sexual abuse and sexual assault after a series of new lawsuits were filed Monday.
At least six lawsuits have been filed in New York federal court by two women and four men. This includes allegations that span from 1995 to 2021.
The anonymous accusers allege that some of the assaults occurred at Combs’ parties, which were attended by celebrities and music artists.
Mr Combs’ lawyer denied the allegations, saying in a statement to the BBC that he had “never sexually assaulted anyone, adult or minor, male or female”.
One of the accusers said he was 16 years old when he attended a party in the Hamptons in 1998. In the complaint, he said he was excited to receive an invitation to Mr. Combs’ party, which has become an annual A-list event for celebrities. .
The accuser said she saw countless celebrities and music artists as she walked around and encountered Combs on her way to the bathroom. He said he began talking to Combs about breaking into the music industry when he went to a more private location.
The accuser alleges that during the conversation, Combs suddenly ordered her to take off her clothes.
The complaint includes a photo of them together at a party, with the boy’s face blurred out.
Combs said it was a “rite of passage” and a “road to stardom,” according to the complaint. The rapper told the teen that anyone could be a star and that the teen had the right "look," the complaint states. .
A separate lawsuit filed Monday involves a woman who claims Combs raped her in a hotel room in 2004, when she was a 19-year-old college student.
According to the complaint, she met the music mogul at a photo shoot, where he invited her and a friend to a private party at his hotel. The complaint alleges that after her arrival, Combs “fondled, sexually abused and ultimately raped her,” despite Combs’ multiple requests to stop.
Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing the accusers, said he represents more than 100 people who plan to sue the rappers for sexual assault, rape and sexual exploitation.
Buzbee said the alleged victims include children. He said the case is being brought under the Gender-Based Violence Victims Protection Act, which allows victims to bring previous claims.
“We will let the allegations in the complaint filed speak for themselves and we will work to ensure that justice is served,” Buzbee said in a statement Monday after filing the lawsuit.
“We continue to gather evidence and prepare for submissions, naming Mr. Combs and others as defendants and expect to file additional lawsuits in the coming weeks.”
The lawsuit is the latest of more than a dozen recently filed against music mogul Combs, accusing him of assault, rape and sexual coercion.
He denied all civil and criminal allegations against him.
Combs faces federal criminal charges of extortion and sex trafficking. A judge last week tentatively scheduled the trial to begin on May 5, 2025.
Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York since his arrest on September 16th. His lawyers have argued for his release pending trial, citing “horrible” conditions in prison.
A New York federal judge denied Combs’ bail request, saying he posed a “significant flight risk.”
