Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs faces a wave of new accusations alleging sexual assault, abuse, and exploitation. In a series of lawsuits filed on Monday in New York federal court, two women and four men describe incidents of assault spanning nearly three decades, with claims dating as far back as 1995. Among the allegations are claims that Combs assaulted minors and used his powerful influence within the entertainment industry to pressure victims into silence.
One of the most disturbing cases comes from a man who says he was only 16 when he attended Combs’ iconic annual party in the Hamptons in 1998. Thrilled to be among the A-list crowd, he says he encountered Combs and sought advice about breaking into the music industry. According to the lawsuit, Combs encouraged the teenager to accompany him to a private area, where he allegedly ordered him to undress, saying it was a “rite of passage” for anyone wanting to make it in the music world. The lawsuit includes a photograph of the two taken at the party, with the accuser’s face blurred out.
Another lawsuit was filed by a woman who says Combs raped her in 2004 when she was a 19-year-old college student. According to the documents, she met Combs at a photoshoot and was later invited to an afterparty at his hotel. The lawsuit alleges that Combs “fondled, molested, and ultimately raped” her, despite her repeated requests for him to stop.
Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents these accusers and more than 100 others, stated that additional cases are expected in the coming weeks. Many of the cases, he said, involve children, and the suits are being filed under New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which allows older claims to be pursued in civil court. “We will let the allegations in these complaints speak for themselves,” Buzbee said. “Justice must be served, and we intend to see this through.”
Combs has denied all allegations, with his attorneys calling them “outrageous and defamatory.” In the criminal sphere, Combs also faces federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, with his trial tentatively set for May 2025. Arrested on September 16, he is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. His legal team’s attempts to secure bail, citing “horrific” jail conditions, were denied by a judge who cited the music mogul as a “serious flight risk.”
As the case gains traction, the lawsuits against Combs add to the recent public scrutiny over his past, putting his legacy as a music industry titan and cultural icon under intense examination. The number and nature of accusations could mark a historic reckoning for Combs and raise deeper questions about industry accountability.
