In November, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a federal lawsuit towards Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York federal court docket. Her lawsuit contains graphic claims of sexual assault, bodily abuse, and an allegation that Combs, her ex-boyfriend, would drive her to have intercourse with male intercourse employees whereas he watched. Ventura’s claims are among the many worst, however not the primary controversy that the music mogul and entrepreneur has been alleged to be concerned in.
Combs has tried to rebrand himself as “Brother Love” lately, even altering his center identify to Love, however he has a chronic historical past of violence, relationship again to the Nineties. He’s by no means been convicted of a critical crime however has repeatedly been accused of getting violent encounters with everybody from his exes Ventura and Gina Huynh (who alleged bodily abuse in 2019) to govt Steve Stoute and rappers like J. Cole and Drake.
Combs’ lawyer Ben Brafman instructed the New York Occasions that “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the previous six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, underneath the specter of writing a harmful e-book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Regardless of withdrawing her preliminary risk, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to submitting a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s popularity and searching for a payday.” The 2 reached an “amicable” settlement for an undisclosed quantity on Nov. 17.
Here’s a timeline of Combs’ controversies over time:
CCNY Tragedy, 1991
Combs co-promoted a star basketball recreation and live performance at Metropolis Faculty of New York the place 9 folks died and 29 folks have been injured. The health club had a capability of two,730 folks however as many as 5,000 folks confirmed as much as the occasion, which didn’t have sufficient safety to regulate the throng. After organizers closed the doorways and stopped letting attendees in, folks exterior broke the gymnasium’s doorways and rushed the foyer, inflicting a stampede. Then-New York Metropolis Mayor David Dinkins’ administration revealed a 67-page report known as “A Failure Of Duty” that cited Combs for hiring insufficient, inexperienced safety. Combs settled a slew of lawsuits from members of the family of attendees who died on the gymnasium, finalizing the final go well with in 2000.
Jake Robles Capturing, 1995
Combs and Demise Row Data co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight have been as soon as mates, however the animosity that fueled the violent rivalry between Demise Row and Unhealthy Boy began as soon as Knight’s buddy (and safety guard) Jake Robles was killed exterior an Atlanta nightclub after an argument with the Unhealthy Boy camp. The boys have been celebrating musician Jermaine Dupri’s birthday at Platinum Metropolis Membership when, as then-Fulton County Sheriff Deputy Chris Howard instructed police, an argument started between members of the Unhealthy Boy and Demise Row Data entourage. Howard stated that he escorted Combs and his friends exterior to go away the membership, and thought the coast was clear to permit Knight and his entourage to go away. However, as Howard instructed the Los Angeles Occasions, “[Knight’s] companion was nearly able to get into the limo when abruptly Puffy’s guys got here from across the nook . . . and considered one of them had a gun.” Howard stated he chased the person, who handed the gun to a different particular person, who shot Robles “two or thrice.” Based on the Occasions, the particular person then jumped right into a “automotive carrying Combs’ associates.” Robles died weeks later at an Atlanta hospital. Combs has denied involvement within the capturing, which Knight reportedly held him accountable for.
Attacking Steve Stoute, 1998
In 1998, Combs and two different males attacked Steve Stoute after the music govt, then Nas’ supervisor, erroneously despatched MTV a model of Combs and Nas’ “Hate Me Now” music video which contained scenes depicting Combs as Jesus Christ being crucified. Combs wished the crucifixion scene deleted from the video, and was enraged that it performed on-air. Stoute says that Combs and two males barged into his New York Metropolis workplace and attacked him with a champagne bottle. He was charged with second-degree assault and legal mischief. Stoute claims that his arm and jaw was damaged within the assault, however Combs denied any bones have been damaged to MTV, additionally telling the community, “I principally went to his workplace, and what occurred in his workplace, I actually can’t discuss however I can say this: the best way I dealt with myself in his workplace was fully unsuitable and I’ve since apologized to Steve about that and I felt like, you understand, I simply dissatisfied myself.” Combs was sentenced to a one-day anger administration class.
Membership New York Capturing, 1999
In late December 1999, Combs and his Unhealthy Boy signee Jamal “Shyne” Barrow have been partying at Membership New York when Diddy knocked a drink out of Matthew “Scar” Allen’s fingers. Allen obtained into an argument with Combs and somebody threw cash in Combs’ face. Allen additionally threatened to kill Shyne. Prosecutors allege that amid the fray, all three males drew weapons, and Shyne shot thrice within the crowded membership. Three folks have been shot. Combs, who was arrested with two nine-millimeter weapons in his automotive, was charged with 4 weapons costs and for bribing his driver to assert that the weapons have been his personal. A witness on the trial stated she noticed each Shyne and Combs shoot their weapons, however Combs was acquitted on all costs, whereas Shyne was discovered responsible of 5 of his eight costs and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Scuffle with J. Cole, 2013
In 2013, Combs was allegedly concerned in an altercation with J. Cole at a 2013 MTV VMAs afterparty. A number of sources alleged to Advanced {that a} “visibly intoxicated” Combs accosted Kendrick Lamar about his fiery verse on Large Sean’s “Management,” the place he bragged he was “King of New York.” Combs allegedly tried to pour a drink on Kendrick earlier than Cole intervened and so they obtained right into a struggle. The New York Submit, nonetheless, reported that the scuffle occurred after “J. Cole was saying inappropriate issues to Sean Combs and his girlfriend, Cassie.” A witness instructed them that “Some pushing and shoving occurred. No punches have been thrown, but it surely was a visual disturbance.” Each males instantly denied a struggle occurred, although Cole later rapped, “My final scrap was with Puff Daddy, who would’ve thought it?” on 2021’s “Let Go My Hand.”
Allegedly Punches Drake, 2014
In December 2014, Combs allegedly punched Drake over the rights to the beat that grew to become Drake’s “0 to 100.” The Miami New-Occasions reported that the 2 obtained into an argument exterior of LIV nightclub throughout DJ Khaled’s occasion for Basel Weekend. Phrases have been allegedly exchanged, and reportedly, “then blows,” with Combs telling Drake, “You’ll not disrespect me.” Combs has denied punching Drake, telling the radio present The Breakfast Membership “I didn’t do nothing to Drake, Drake is my buddy.”
Fights UCLA Coach, 2015
In June of 2015, Combs obtained right into a scuffle with then-UCLA assistant soccer coach Sal Alosi. TMZ reported that Combs was current throughout a UCLA observe the place Alosi chided his son (and then-UCLA participant) Justin Combs, telling him, “I don’t care in case your dad’s right here. That is UCLA. I’m going to deal with you identical to I deal with everybody else.” After the observe, Combs and his son reportedly went to Alosi’s workplace, the place an argument ensued and Combs “grabbed” Alosi. Based on one account, Combs was forcibly faraway from Alosi’s workplace after which swung a kettlebell at an intern. A rep for Combs Enterprises famous, “The assorted accounts of the occasion and costs which are being reported are wholly inaccurate. What we will say now’s that any actions taken by Mr. Combs have been solely defensive in nature to guard himself and his son.” The LA district lawyer determined to not file assault costs towards Combs.
Gina Huynh Alleges Abuse, 2019
In 2019 Combs’ ex Gina Huynh instructed blogger Tasha Ok that Combs bodily abused her all through their five-year relationship. She claimed he as soon as stomped her on the abdomen, inflicting her to lose her breath, and likewise punched her behind the top. She instructed Tasha Ok that, “He was mentally, emotionally and bodily abusing me. He would all the time evaluate me to Cassie and inform me that I’m the dangerous one, she’s one.” She additionally stated that “everybody” in Combs’ circle “allowed” the abuse to happen.
Cassie Recordsdata Civil Go well with In opposition to Combs, 2023
On Nov. sixteenth, Combs’ ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a federal lawsuit towards Combs in New York alleging years of assault. Her lawsuit incorporates graphic allegations of Combs raping her in 2018, bodily abusing her, intimidating her, and making her have intercourse with male escorts whereas he watched. The lawsuit additionally alleges that Combs blew up Cudi’s automotive to discourage him from seeing Cassie romantically — by way of a rep, Cudi stated the accusations are true. Combs has denied the allegations and alleged that Cassie tried to blackmail him for $30 million earlier than submitting the lawsuit. The 2 settled for an undisclosed quantity on Nov. 17, along with his lawyer Ben Brafman stating that “Mr. Combs‘ choice to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any method undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.”
Jane Doe Sues for 1991 Rape and Revenge Porn
5 days after Combs and Cassie reached a settlement, a former Syracuse College school pupil sued Combs for allegedly drugging, raping, and recording her, afterwards allegedly exhibiting others the assault he filmed. The go well with, which was obtained by Rolling Stone, claims that after taking the girl to dinner in Harlem in 1991, he drove her to a recording studio the place he raped her whereas, she alleged, she was in “a bodily state the place she couldn’t independently stand or stroll.” “Days later,” the go well with reads, “a male buddy revealed to her that he had considered the ‘intercourse tape’ together with different males.” A consultant for Combs denied the allegations, calling them a “cash seize” in an announcement to TMZ.
Diddy Faces Third Sexual Assault Go well with in One Week
Simply earlier than New York State’s Grownup Survivors Act’s Nov. 23 deadline, a second nameless accuser filed a lawsuit towards Combs alleging sexual assault. (The regulation, handed in Might 2022, opened a window for folks over the age of 18 on the time of alleged sexual offenses to file lawsuits towards alleged perpetrators, overriding statutes of limitations that usually reduce off authorized choices — advocates have requested for an extension of the act’s window or the undoing of statutes of limitations altogether.) On this go well with, a girl claims Diddy and singer-songwriter Aaron Corridor took turns raping her and a buddy in 1990 or 1991. She additionally alleges that days later, Diddy once more attacked her at a house the place she was staying. “He was irate and commenced assaulting and choking Jane Doe to the purpose that she handed out,” the criticism alleges. “Combs was trying to find Jane Doe’s buddy as a result of he was nervous that she would inform the woman he was with on the time what he and Corridor had carried out to them.” (Reps for Corridor and Combs didn’t instantly return requests for touch upon Friday.)
Third Jane Doe Recordsdata Lawsuit
On Dec. 6, Jane Doe plaintiff filed a lawsuit towards Combs, Daddy’s Home Recordings, and Unhealthy Boy Leisure, alleging that in 2003, when she was 17, she was gang raped by Combs, former Unhealthy Boy President Harve Pierre, and one other unidentified man at Combs’ Daddy’s Home studio in New York Metropolis. The lawsuit claims that the teenager met Pierre in Detroit and was instructed Combs wished to fulfill her. She was flown in on a personal jet to Teterboro, NJ, earlier than arriving in Manhattan. The three males allegedly plied the excessive schooler with “copious quantities of medicine and alcohol.” The graphic lawsuit stated that issues started to visually “blur” for her when she was assaulted by the three males within the toilet as she drifted out and in of consciousness, had problem respiration, and pled for them to cease. Allegedly, Combs assaulted her first after which watched the opposite two males whereas sitting in a chair exterior the lavatory. The lawsuit additionally claims that after Pierre completed assaulting her, she was left within the toilet alone, the place she curled right into a fetal place with vaginal ache. As soon as she “regained her bearings,” she was taken again to an airport and flown to Detroit.
On the identical day of the lawsuit, Combs made an announcement claiming, “Sufficient is sufficient. For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched folks attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my popularity and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made towards me by people on the lookout for a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged. I’ll struggle for my identify, my household and for the reality.”
Tiffany Crimson Writes an Open Letter Corroborating Cassie’s Allegations
On Dec. 7, Tiffany Crimson — a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who has written songs for Zendaya, Joe Jonas, Jason Derulo, and Tamar Braxton, amongst others — revealed an open letter to Combs by way of Rolling Stone alleging that Cassie’s claims have been true.
“I’m one of many mates talked about in her lawsuit, particularly from the night time of her twenty ninth birthday, as detailed within the part labeled ‘Mr. Combs Forces Ms. Ventura Into Intercourse Trafficking,’” she wrote. Crimson detailed her first encounters with Combs and her working relationship with Cassie as a songwriter and detailed the occasion the place she claimed Combs separated Cassie from her mates. When Cassie and Combs returned later within the night, Crimson wrote that they appeared intoxicated and that Combs was verbally abusive to each girls, calling Crimson an “emotional singing bitch,” earlier than departing.
“She later instructed me you made her have a ‘Freak Off’ — which Cassie described in her lawsuit as an ‘association’ the place you’d make her carry out sexual acts with male intercourse employees — that night time,” Crimson wrote. “The rationale you known as me ’emotional singing bitch’ was since you have been listening to new songs we wrote through the ‘Freak Off’ that had begun after you got here to get her earlier that night time. I’m disturbed to my core by this.” Crimson wrote that she noticed events later the place Combs appeared verbally abusive to Cassie and stated that she, too, had skilled trauma because of Combs’ alleged actions.
Replace – Dec. 7, 2023, 11:17 a.m. ET: This submit was up to date to replicate Crimson’s open letter.
