NEW YORK — A series of fresh lawsuits were submitted on Monday, alleging that Sean “Diddy” Combs has engaged in various forms of sexual misconduct, including accusations of rape against women, sexual assault against men, and the molestation of a 16-year-old boy.
At least six lawsuits were filed anonymously in federal court located in Manhattan, with two cases brought by women referred to as Jane Does, and four lawsuits from men identified as John Does. The individuals bringing the accusations are part of what their legal representatives claim is a larger group of over 100 alleged victims taking legal actions against Combs following his recent arrest related to sex trafficking.
One of the John Does, a North Carolina resident, details an event from 1998 where he alleges that Combs inappropriately touched him when he was just 16 years old at one of the rapper’s renowned white parties in the Hamptons. The man recounts a conversation about entering the music industry where Combs unexpectedly instructed him to pull down his pants for inspection, claiming it was part of a necessary ritual for those aspiring to be music stars.
The accusations state that Combs pressure him by asking, “Don’t you want to break into the business?” The man claims he complied out of fear, concern, and a perceived power imbalance, only to understand later that he had been a victim of sexual assault.
Additionally, Monday’s lawsuits filed in Manhattan include serious allegations such as rape, enforced oral sex, and instances where victims were drugged to the point of incapacitation. Prior to these allegations, Combs had faced similar claims in civil cases but was previously only indicted regarding sexual activities involving adults.
As of now, Combs’ legal team has yet to respond to requests for comments. When news broke of the intended lawsuits on October 1, an attorney stated that Combs “cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus.” Combs, who is 54 years old, has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. These charges accuse him of coercing and abusing women for years, aided by a network of associates, and of silencing his victims through intimidation tactics that included blackmail, kidnapping, arson, and physical violence.
Combs’s legal representatives have sought unsuccessfully to secure his release on bail. He has remained in custody at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest on September 16.