More than 100 victims, including one who was 9 years old at the time, are filing lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The lawsuits are for alleged sexual abuse and exploitation, outlined in cases that will further expose “many powerful people,” lawyers announced Tuesday.
“I want to focus on the ages of these victims. When we talk about the ages of these victims when the conduct occurred, it’s shocking,” Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Emerging lawsuits and accusations
The fresh wave of complaints by 120 accusers is roughly split evenly by gender. Spanning 30 years, the claims include 25 minors. One child was allegedly just 9 when they were victimised.
The children Diddy allegedly abused were “seeking TV or music careers with promises [from Combs] of ‘I’ll make you a star,” Buzbee alleged.
Buzbee says his team possesses evidence including photos, videos and text messages. These materials will help prove the alleged assaults while implicating “many powerful people” and revealing “many dirty secrets.”
Buzbee says the notable names expected to come out “will shock you.”
“We will expose the enablers who enabled this conduct behind closed doors. We will pursue this matter no matter who the evidence implicates,” the attorney vowed.
New accusations are the latest in a surge of claims against the Bad Boy Records founder. Sean “Diddy” Combs, 54, was arrested on sex trafficking charges in New York two weeks ago.
Most of the new cases are expected to be lodged in New York and Los Angeles. These cases will be filed within the next month, Buzbee said.
Dozens of allegations involve “violent sexual assault or rape, facilitated sex with a controlled substance, dissemination of video recordings [and] sexual abuse of minors,” the lawyer added.
“This is an important matter that we intend to aggressively pursue,” Buzbee said.
“We will leave no stone unturned to find all potentially liable parties, to include any individual or entity who participated in or benefited from this egregious behaviour.”
Last month’s unsealed indictment
The federal indictment unsealed last month detailed troubling allegations. Combs, 54, allegedly manipulated women, plying them with drugs in order to participate in his “Freak Offs.” These violent sex sessions were sometimes recorded against their will.
Diddy’s staff participated in organising the violent sexcapades, meanwhile helping to keep them a secret, the indictment claims.
Combs pleaded not guilty and is currently held without bail in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Prior to Combs’ high-profile arrest in at a Manhattan hotel, 12 people, including his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, also accused the hip-hop mogul of sexual assault in civil court.
In May, unearthed surveillance footage from 2016 also showed Combs viciously attacking Cassie in a hotel hallway.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr. Combs,” Douglas H. Wigdor, a lawyer for Ventura, said at the time.
“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light,” Wigdor added.
Other evidence of Diddy’s abuse
Attorney Ariel Mitchell-Kidd claims a shocking pornographic video of Combs and a “more high-profile’ celebrity was being “shopped around” Hollywood.
“I can tell the video was pornographic. This was in his Atlanta home, and it does seem like the person isn’t looking into the video. To me, it doesn’t seem like that person knows they’re being videotaped,” Mitchell-Kidd told NewsNation.
Mitchell-Kidd says she also plans to file another lawsuit against Combs. This is on behalf of a client claiming she was raped by the music star in 2018.
“Combs sexually assaulted her with an inanimate object. … And then directed another gentleman to sexually assault her while he watched and pleasured himself,” the lawyer alleged.
It was not immediately clear if Mitchell-Kidd’s clients claims were among those announced on Tuesday.
Diddy’s lawyers allege he is innocent
Combs lawyers insisted again Tuesday their client is innocent.
“As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasised, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus,” Combs’ attorney’s said in a statement.
“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 if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- BBC highlights the gravity of the situation, emphasising that Sean Combs is now under federal detention facing serious charges. The report notes that the latest lawsuit includes allegations of drugging and sexual assault, showcasing a troubling pattern of abuse that has emerged over the years. (Read more)
- France 24 focused on the sheer scale of the allegations, reporting that attorney Tony Buzbee announced plans for civil action involving more than 100 victims, including minors. (Read more)
- NBC News covered the extensive nature of the accusations against Combs, detailing incidents span over two decades and involve both male and female victims. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What are the latest allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs?
Diddy faces new allegations from over 100 victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, with claims spanning 30 years, including 25 minors.
What evidence supports the claims against Diddy?
Lawyers claim to have photos, videos, and text messages that will help prove the assaults and implicate other powerful people.
Where are the new lawsuits being filed?
The lawsuits will mainly be filed in New York and Los Angeles over the coming month, targeting Diddy and those involved.
How is Diddy responding to the allegations?
Diddy’s legal team denies all accusations, calling them false and defamatory, and pledges to prove his innocence in court.
What were the “Freak Offs” mentioned in the indictment?
The indictment accuses Diddy of organising violent sex sessions called “Freak Offs,” where victims were drugged and sometimes filmed without consent.
