Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is potentially facing new lawsuits from around 120 people accusing the rapper of sexual abuse and assault, including 25 minors.
Per Rolling Stone, prominent Texan lawyer Tony Buzbee has revealed that he’s currently working with 120 people who have come forward with new claims against the disgraced musician and mogul.
Buzbee reportedly held a virtual press conference on Tuesday (October 1), where he shared that of the 120 alleged victims, 60 were men and 60 were women. Among these 120 people, 25 were minors at the time of the alleged abuse, with the youngest alleged victim aged nine-years-old.
According to Buzbee, the nine-year-old alleged victim had met with Diddy at his Bad Boy office in Manhattan for an audition and was “trying to land a record deal” in a competitive process that included “other boys” when he was allegedly sexually abused by Diddy and “several other people at the studio”.
Other alleged instances of minors reportedly being sexually abused by Diddy includes a 14-year-old who it is claimed was told to meet the rapper “privately” without his parents, where he was allegedly forced to perform oral sex on Diddy.
Buzbee has reportedly acknowledged the statute of limitations, but said that New York and California will likely recognise the “majority” of the 120 cases. The lawyer also said that all 120 alleged victims “intend to bring civil claims in civil court” against Diddy and potential co-defendants including alleged accomplices, silent bystanders and “corporate entities”.
According to Buzbee, he expects all 120 alleged victims to begin filing their lawsuits in the coming month.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Diddy’s lawyer Erica Wolff told the publication that the musician “emphatically and categorically denies” the allegations. “As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasized, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus,” she said.
“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,” Wolff continued.
Last month, the rap mogul was arrested in New York and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transporting for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Diddy was then denied bail despite offering a US$50million bond and was reportedly placed on suicide watch as he awaits trial, though his attorney Marc Agnifilo told TMZ that the directive was issued as a routine measure for “new, high-profile inmates”. Other reports suggested that he was not eating in prison out of fear of being poisoned. The bail denial meant that the rapper has been ordered to remain in jail while awaiting trial.
Earlier this week, Diddy’s attorney Agnifilo shared that an appeal against the bail denial has been filed, with the musician promising that he won’t be meeting any women apart from his family members, and that he would partake in weekly drug tests if released from prison.
Diddy’s next hearing is scheduled to take place on October 9.
Last week, more claims came to light in a separate lawsuit in which a woman alleged that Diddy and his bodyguard drugged, raped her and filmed the incident in 2001 – the bodyguard has not addressed these claims. Diddy has denied criminal wrongdoing, according to BBC. New information about Diddy’s alleged arson attack on Kid Cudi’s car was also recently revealed in a newly unearthed Los Angeles City Fire Department report – Diddy has yet to comment on the arson allegations.
Before last week’s wave of accusations and lawsuits against the rapper came to light, singer Cassie filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs had raped her and subjected her to countless acts of sexual, physical, emotional and mental abuse. Diddy denied the claims before the pair settled the lawsuit “to mutual satisfaction” a day after it was filed.
Footage of Combs attacking Cassie was later released to the public, and Diddy issued an apology for his actions at the time.
In a new TMZ documentary titled The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment, the rap mogul’s attorney said he was “actually remarkably positive” while in prison and has “come to terms with the fact that this is where he is for now”, and that he’s “focused on his defence”.
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
