Whereas Sean “Diddy” Combs turned a definitive determine in hip hop — as his profession unfold from music to style, spirits and extra, climbing to the highest echelons of those industries — reviews over the previous yr have made clear that rumors of his conduct behind closed doorways persevered for years. The primary crack within the dam got here in November, when accusations in a authorized grievance from his ex-girlfriend, “Me & U” singer Cassie, opened the door to what’s now mounted to 10 authorized complaints towards the mogul. On Sept. 17, he was arrested in Manhattan on costs that included intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, coercion to have interaction in prostitution and narcotics distribution.
Combs entered a not responsible plea on these costs and, in a press release after his arrest, his legal professional Marc Agnifilo mentioned the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace is pursuing an “unjust prosecution,” including that Combs has cooperated within the investigation.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving household man, and confirmed philanthropist who has spent the final 30 years constructing an empire, adoring his youngsters, and dealing to uplift the Black group,” Agnifilo, a former federal and state prosecutor, mentioned. “He’s an imperfect individual, however he’s not a felony.”
Here’s a take a look at the accusations which have emerged over the previous 10 months involving Combs.
Nov. 16, 2023: Cassandra Ventura, also referred to as the singer Cassie, filed a authorized grievance alleging years of sexual abuse, harassment and rape through the relationship she entered in with Combs and remained in for years. Cassie additionally alleged within the swimsuit that Combs made a risk to explode Child Cudi’s automobile; later, the rapper’s automobile exploded and Cudi confirmed the model of occasions detailed in her swimsuit. Her case was filed below New York’s Grownup Survivors Act and simply sooner or later after it was filed, the lawsuit was settled out of court docket for an undisclosed sum.
Cassie
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Nov. 23, 2023: Per week later, below the wire earlier than the cutoff date for submitting below the Grownup Survivors Act, Combs was hit with two extra lawsuits. Joi Dickerson-Neal accused him of misconduct within the Nineties after the 2 went on a date when she was 19. The case alleges that Combs drugged and raped {the teenager} whereas videotaping the assault, whereas one other nameless lawsuit alleged Combs is accused together with singer Aaron Corridor of sexually assaulting a feminine after which beating her days later.
Dec. 6, 2023: Combs is accused of involvement in a gang rape in 2003 the place he allegedly drugged the accuser, who was 17 years previous on the time; two different males have been accused within the alleged assault, which the alleged sufferer says occurred in a recording studio in 2003. The backlash towards Combs after this accusation is palpable and he steps down as chairman of Revolt TV; a number of manufacturers additionally determine to chop ties together with his enterprise. Combs takes to Instagram and denies all of the allegations within the lawsuits he now was drowning in: “I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,” he wrote. “I’ll combat for my title, my household, and for the reality.”
Feb. 26, 2024: The well-known Lil’ Rod lawsuit drops, accusing Combs of sexual assault and forcing the upstart producer to have interaction with prostitutes, ingest medicine and have interaction in varied uncouth actions. The grievance particulars components of Rodney “Lil’ Rod” Jones’ 14-month odyssey residing and dealing with Combs; within the grievance, the 38-year-old says he was sexually assaulted, allegedly pressured by Combs to have interaction in intercourse acts, made to solicit intercourse employees, drugged, humiliated and repeatedly groped — and in what his attorneys say is the true motivation behind the swimsuit, Jones alleges he was stiffed by Diddy for his work on the mogul’s 2023 album. Combs’ authorized staff cries foul on all the particulars of the swimsuit, calling them “pure fiction” and denying Jones accomplished the work he claims he produced for 2023’s Grammy-nominated The Love Album: Off the Grid.
March 25, 2024: The Combs case escalates, with large consideration on his dealings after authorities raided his properties in New York, Los Angeles and Miami as a part of a broad investigation into intercourse trafficking allegations. That this all got here because the Lil Rod lawsuit was elevating eyebrows concerning the mogul’s habits did no favors for Combs and shortly, he was a every day topic of gossip and conspiracy theories throughout the online. Combs’ then-attorney, Aaron Dyer, referred to as the raids a “gross overuse of navy degree pressure” and mentioned the “unprecedented ambush [was] paired with a sophisticated, coordinated media presence.”
April 4, 2024: A lawsuit implicated Christian Combs, the rap mogul’s son, in a sexual assault that allegedly concerned a employees member on a yacht that had been chartered by the beleaguered rapper. Within the swimsuit, Combs is accused of facilitating the surroundings that allowed the assault to happen.
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April 26, 2024: At this level, Combs’ authorized staff goes on the offensive once they file motions to dismiss key components of the lawsuits. Their argument? A number of the claims, like these regarding revenge porn and human trafficking, weren’t unlawful in 1991, which is once they allegedly occurred. This particularly pertains to Dickerson’s lawsuit, which concerned footage of the alleged rape being circulated. Within the submitting, in addition they slam the “quite a few false, offensive, and salacious accusations” made.
Might 10, 2024: Combs’ authorized staff once more pushes again on claims towards their shopper, this time alleging the lawsuit from the Detroit girl alleging Combs raped her with two others in a studio in 2003 was filed too late and that the claims round Combs’ alleged habits are “false and hideous.”
Might 17, 2024: Combs’ repute is dealt a large blow after CNN obtained a video of the mogul carrying a gown and strolling right into a resort hallway the place he then brutally assaulted his former romantic associate, Cassie, in 2016. The stunning video is blanketed throughout the media and leads Combs to problem a public apology. “My habits on that video is inexcusable. I take full duty for my actions in that video,” he mentioned in a video assertion posted on his Instagram web page.
June 9-10, 2024: Howard College revokes an honorary diploma it handed to Combs; the rapper returns a key to New York Metropolis on the request of Mayor Eric Adams.
June 10, 2024: Longtime rap recreation rival of Combs, Suge Knight, who ran Loss of life Row Data on the West Coast whereas Diddy was on the helm of Dangerous Boy, dropped a idea from jail that the mogul is working with the FBI as an informant. For this reason, Knight claimed, Combs had been in a position to act as he did with impunity. “It shouldn’t be a grey space with regards to doing one thing proper, doing one thing optimistic, or doing one thing for the group,” Knight mentioned on an episode of his Acquire Name with Suge Knight podcast. “That being mentioned, naturally, Puffy has been an FBI informant without end, as they’d say. That’s why it’s totally different with regards to him.”
Aug. 26, 2024: Combs’ attorneys problem a movement to dismiss Lil Rod’s explosive case, saying that his accusations had been exaggerated and a few even fabricated. They accused Jones of aiming solely to take advantage of his fame for media consideration and a doubtlessly massive settlement. In addition they point out that his preliminary gripe with Combs needed to do with nonpayment and that it was solely when he teamed up together with his legal professional, Tyrone Blackburn, that he started to make the salacious claims in his grievance, which incorporates the assertion that Combs was utilizing kompromat as leverage to achieve energy and management over others.
“Mr. Combs possesses compromising footage of each person who has attended his ‘freak off’ events, and his home events,” the grievance mentioned, referring to alleged days-long intercourse events the mogul is claimed to have thrown. “Upon data and perception, attributable to this treasure trove of proof he has in his possession, Mr. Combs believes that he’s above the regulation and is untouchable.”
Sept. 11, 2024: Singer Daybreak Richard filed what’s now the tenth lawsuit towards Combs because the cascade of litigation started in November. In 2003, Richard fashioned the lady group Danity Kane, which Combs mentored as a part of his position in MTV’s Making the Band. She alleges that Combs, as they labored collectively, subjected her to years of psychological and bodily abuse, which included groping.
Sept. 15, 2024: Combs had returned to New York in anticipation of his arrest. He was noticed round Manhattan a number of occasions and reviews point out the beleaguered near-billionaire gave the impression to be in good spirits. On the Sunday earlier than he was taken into custody, Combs was noticed mingling amongst followers in Central Park and is seen in a photograph obtained by Information Nation sitting on a bench together with his legal professional; that night time, he was photographed strolling round city together with his son, Christian Combs.</p>
Sept. 16, 2024: Combs is arrested in Manhattan and an indictment, unsealed the next day, accuses the fallen mogul of crimes associated to an alleged decades-long sample of bodily and sexual violence towards ladies. Federal prosecutors charged him with intercourse trafficking and racketeering for steering an unlimited felony enterprise via which he assaulted and trafficked ladies with the assistance of his varied companies from at the very least 2008. He pleaded not responsible and fought for a $60 million bond, however the choose determined he could be detained till his trial.
