Two years ago, Sean “Diddy” Combs celebrated his 53rd birthday in extravagant style at his $61 million Beverly Hills mansion. The star-studded event, marking his 30 years in the music industry, featured A-list guests including Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Mary J. Blige, and Machine Gun Kelly. Combs, a major force in hip-hop, had built an empire that transformed the genre, producing hits for icons like Mariah Carey and The Notorious B.I.G.
However, fast-forward to 2024, and Combs’ illustrious career is marred by serious legal troubles. The music mogul faces accusations of kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into sexual activities, with some allegations involving firearms and threats of violence. His once-celebrated mansion was raided by police in March, who discovered drugs and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil intended for use in alleged “freak offs,” or drug-fueled sexual parties.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include racketeering, sex trafficking, and forced labor. His legal battles began with a series of lawsuits:
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November 2023: Cassie’s Lawsuit
Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, a former girlfriend and artist signed to Combs’ label, filed a civil lawsuit alleging years of abuse. Cassie claimed that Combs used his influence to coerce her into a violent and manipulative relationship, involving drug-fueled sex parties. She also accused Combs of destroying a car belonging to rapper Kid Cudi to prevent him from dating her. The case was settled out of court a day after it was filed, with Combs denying all allegations and accusing Cassie of extortion.
November to December 2023: Additional Accusations
In the following weeks, multiple women came forward with allegations dating back to 1991. These lawsuits included anonymous claims of coercion into sex, and accusations from Joi Dickerson-Neal and Liza Gardner of drugging, assault, and rape. Gardner also alleged that Combs violently choked her days after the attack. These lawsuits were filed before the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily extended the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims. Combs’ spokesperson dismissed these allegations as a “money grab.”
December 2023: Underage Sex Claim
Another lawsuit emerged in December, with a woman known only as Jane Doe alleging she was sex trafficked and gang-raped by Combs and others in 2003 when she was 17. The woman claimed she was drugged and left in severe pain. Combs and his associates denied these allegations, calling them false and financially motivated.
December 2023: Public Denial
On December 6, Combs took to Instagram to address the allegations. He denounced the claims as character assassination and vowed to fight for his reputation and the truth. “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” he declared, rejecting the accusations and asserting his innocence.
Also read: Sean “Diddy” Combs Denied Bail
