He’s denied all allegations and wrongdoings, but the allegations brought forward by Diddy‘s victims continue to stream in. The rapper faced an avalanche of lawsuits since his ex-girlfriend Cassie sued him in November 2023, for abuse she endured over several years beginning when she was 19 years old.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, free and confidential help is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 1-800-656-4673.
On March 25, 2024, Diddy’s homes were raided by federal agents after allegations were made against the rapper for sex trafficking. A spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations told TMZ: “Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide further information as it becomes available.”
On September 16, 2024, Diddy was arrested in Manhattan, New York. Federal authorities are charging Diddy with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to an unsealed indictment against him by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He was denied bail in a New York courtroom after pleading “not guilty.”
Diddy’s victims, including Cassie, have alleged the rapper “mentally, emotionally and physically abused” them, “but no one dared to speak up against their frightening and ferocious boss,” per Cassie’s lawsuit. Here’s everything we know.
Diddy’s victims
All the people who have made allegations against the rapper.
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Cassie Ventura
Image Credit: Getty Images On November 16, 2023, Casandra Ventura, also known as R&B singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court against Combs, whom she dated between 2005 and 2018. She claimed he’d been sexually and physically abusive throughout their relationship, ranging from beating Ventura and forcing her to have sex with other men, to raping her at her home in 2018. They settled the next day.
“We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love,” Combs said in a Friday statement obtained by CNN, with his lawyer adding: “A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Ben Brafman said. “Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura and an anonymous plaintiff referred to as Jane Doe, issued this statement, per ABC7, after the raids: “We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”
On May 19, 2024, CNN obtained a video of Diddy physically assaulting his then-girlfriend which is similar to an incident Cassie described in her lawsuit against him that took place in March 2016 at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles. The complaint alleges Combs paid the InterContinental Century City $50,000 for the hallway security footage that shows him throwing her to the ground and kicking her repeatedly.
Diddy finally confronted his behavior in an apology video issues the day after the video was published. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs said in a video statement posted to Instagram. “I was f—ked up—I hit rock bottom—but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.” He continued: “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I am disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
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Joi Dickerson-Neal
A woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal alleged in a lawsuit Combs drugged her, sexually assaulted her, and secretly recorded the assault while she was a college student in 1991. “These are fabricated claims falsely alleging misconduct from over 30 years ago and filed at the last minute. This is nothing but a money grab,” a Combs representative told Newsweek.
“Because of Mr. Combs’ fame and success, he is an easy target for anonymous accusers who lie without conscience or consequence for financial benefit. The New York Legislature surely did not intend or expect the Adult Survivors Act to be exploited by scammers. The public should be skeptical and not rush to accept these bogus allegations.”
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Lil Rod
Producer Lil Rod, aka Ronnie Jones Jr., sued Diddy for sexual assault and sex trafficking on March 4, among other claims, while working on The Love Album from September 2022 to November 2023. In a lengthy filing obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Jones was allegedly forced by Combs to engage in sex acts, made to solicit sex workers, drugged, humiliated, and says he was repeatedly groped. He sought $30 million in restitution.
“Mr. Jones is nothing more than a con man, shamelessly looking for an easy and wholly undeserved payday,” attorney Shawn Holley said at the time. “We have indisputable, incontrovertible proof that his claims are complete fabrications. Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored. We look forward to addressing these ridiculous claims in court and intend to take all appropriate action against all who are attempting to peddle them.”
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Jane Doe 1
On December 6, 2023, a woman sued Diddy for sex trafficking, gender-motivated violence, and gang rape when she was 17 years old. “As alleged in the complaint, Defendants preyed on a vulnerable high school teenager as part of a sex trafficking scheme that involved plying her with drugs and alcohol and transporting her by private jet to New York City where she was gang raped by the three individual defendants at Mr. Combs’ studio,” the plaintiff’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, said in a statement. “The depravity of these abhorrent acts has, not surprisingly, scarred our client for life.”
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Crystal McKinney
Model Crystal McKinney accused Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her in his recording studio in 2003. McKinney claimed in the lawsuit obtained by People that she was instructed to sit “directly across from Combs” at the event and that he “made a very public display of coming on to [her] in a sexually suggestive manner which continued throughout the dinner.”
Back at Diddy’s studio, McKinney claims she was offered weed, and alleges she “later came to understand that Combs had laced the joint with a narcotic or other intoxicating substance,” per the lawsuit. She then alleges Combs led her into a bathroom where he forced her to perform oral sex, after which he said she became “physically sick” and lost consciousness.
