![\"Evening](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/evening-headlines\/evening-headlines.png\")
<\/div>\nThe most recent headlines from our reporters throughout the US despatched straight to your inbox every weekday<\/h3>\nYour briefing on the most recent headlines from throughout the US<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
S<\/span>ean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs, a rapper and music mogul credited with serving to launch the careers of among the greatest stars lately, is now facing multiple civil lawsuits<\/a> accusing him of intercourse trafficking, sexual abuse and rape.<\/p>\n Combs, previously often known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and a number of different names, has undergone a myriad of reinventions because the begin of his profession \u2013 however has since entered a brand new and unwelcome \u201cperiod.\u201d<\/p>\n Federal brokers with US Homeland Safety raided two of the rapper\u2019s homes in Los Angeles and Miami on 25 March as he faces a string of various accusations.<\/p>\n Combs, 54, has strongly denied all the allegations towards him. His attorneys have branded the lawsuits and their accusations as cash grabs, \u201cbaseless\u201d or \u201csickening.\u201d<\/p>\n The entertainer has not been formally charged or accused by federal prosecutors of any crime.<\/p>\n On 17 Might, surveillence footage captured at a lodge in Los Angeles in March 2016 confirmed Diddy chasing his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura<\/a> down the hallway earlier than attacking her by the elevators. He then makes an attempt to pull her again to his lodge room. <\/p>\n The next day, he shared an apology video to Instagram <\/a>saying his behaviour was \u201cinexcusable\u201d and that he took \u201cfull accountability for his actions within the video\u201d. <\/p>\n The slew of allegations in lawsuits towards Combs date way back to the Nineties, when he based his personal file label, Unhealthy Boy Data.<\/p>\n Lawsuits towards the rapper started on 16 November 2023 when he was sued by singer and dancer Cassie, his former accomplice, who alleged years of abuse. <\/p>\n It was filed under the New York Adult Survivors Act<\/a>, simply earlier than it expired. This act supplied a one-year window for grownup victims of sexual assault to come back ahead with civil claims whatever the statute of limitations.<\/p>\n R&B singer Cassie, whose full identify is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging that she was trafficked, raped and overwhelmed by Combs on many events over 10 years.<\/p>\n Her lawsuit claimed that Combs introduced the singer into his \u201costentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled life-style\u201d not lengthy after she met him, and signed her to his label in 2005 when she was simply 19 and he was 37.<\/p>\n Ms Ventura mentioned that the sample of abuse started as quickly as their relationship began and that, as she was making an attempt to finish it in 2018, he pressured himself into her Los Angeles house and raped her.<\/p>\n On Might 17, surveillance footage obtained by CNN showed an incident <\/a>which appeared to corroborate elements of Ms Ventura\u2019s authentic criticism. The video from March 2016 confirmed Combs chasing her down the hall of a Los Angeles lodge and continuing to punch and kick her outdoors a set of elevators.<\/p>\n In keeping with the criticism, which cited the altercation as occurring \u201cround March 2016,\u201d Combs turned \u201cextraordinarily intoxicated and punched Ms Ventura within the face, giving her a black eye.\u201d<\/p>\n The surveillance footage confirmed Combs leaving Ms Ventura then returning and shoving her right into a nook. He’s then seen hurling an object at her, which was additionally cited in her criticism.<\/p>\n On Sunday (19 Might), Combs released a video apologising for his actions in the video<\/a>, calling his behaviour \u201cinexcusable\u201d and saying he \u201ctakes full accountability for his actions within the video\u201d.<\/p>\n The lawsuit towards Combs was settled for an undisclosed sum of money a day after Ms Ventura filed it.<\/p>\n Ms Ventura instructed CNN she had chosen to \u201cresolve this matter amicably,\u201d whereas Combs\u2019 lawyer mentioned the settlement was \u201cunder no circumstances an admission of wrongdoing\u201d and didn\u2019t change his denial of the allegations.<\/p>\n Her accusations towards Combs have been introduced by the New York Grownup Survivors Act (ASA), which expired at midnight on 23 November 2023.<\/p>\n The act supplied survivors a one-year window to pursue civil litigation no matter when the abuse occurred, that means incidents from many years have been lastly dropped at gentle.<\/p>\n Greater than 2,500 circumstances have been filed underneath the ASA earlier than its expiry at midnight on 23 November 2023, court docket information despatched to The Impartial<\/em> confirmed.<\/p>\n Survivors introduced lawsuits towards among the state\u2019s strongest males, together with main gamers in leisure, corresponding to Invoice Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Axl Rose, and Combs.<\/p>\n In the newest lawsuit towards Combs, filed on 26 February 2024 in New York, producer Rodney \u201cLil Rod\u201d Jones, alleged he was \u201csubjected to undesirable advances by associates of Diddy at his route\u201d and that he was pressured to interact in relations with the intercourse staff Combs had employed.<\/p>\n The producer, who labored for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023 claimed Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for greater than a 12 months.<\/p>\n He mentioned he has video and audio proof of Combs, his employees and others \u201cparticipating in critical criminal activity.\u201d The lawsuit recognized Rapper 50 Cent\u2018s former girlfriend and the mom of one among his youngsters, Daphne Pleasure, as one of the alleged sex workers.<\/a><\/p>\n The lawsuit additionally alleges that Combs commonly hosted \u201csex-trafficking events\u201d with underage girls and unlawful medication, and implies file label executives who appeared the opposite approach financially benefited from entry to celebrities and dignitaries, together with the British royal Prince Harry.<\/p>\n Prince Harry just isn’t accused of any wrongdoing or of attending events himself.<\/p>\n Combs\u2019s lawyer instructed The Los Angeles Instances <\/em>that the lawsuit incorporates \u201creckless name-dropping about occasions which might be pure fiction and easily didn’t\u201d happen.<\/p>\n Ryan Mendelsohn, 20, who used to reside within the space the place Combs\u2019 Los Angeles property was searched, instructed reporters he would see events on the house and girls outdoors till 6am, which was not typical.<\/p>\n \u201cI drive by rather a lot, and I see that \u2014 lots of ladies, possibly 5 or 6 ladies outdoors, some leaving, some not, some getting into,\u201d he mentioned, in accordance with NBC News.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI by no means thought something of it,\u201d Mr Mendelsohn, who added that he didn’t know Combs lived there till Monday\u2019s information broke. \u201cHowever now, it\u2019s loopy.\u201d<\/p>\n In November 2023, Joie Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs drugged her, sexually assaulted her and secretly recorded the assault whereas she was a university pupil in 1991, NBC News reported<\/a>, citing the submitting.<\/p>\n She claimed that Combs pushed her to go to dinner with him and he or she agreed \u201creluctantly\u201d on 3 January 1991, which is when she alleges she was drugged, \u201cleading to her being in a bodily state the place she couldn’t independently stand or stroll,\u201d the BBC reported.<\/p>\n The go well with additionally claims he recorded the assault and confirmed it to different individuals.<\/p>\n She later filed police experiences in New York and New Jersey, spoke to prosecutors, however was instructed by colleagues they have been \u201cterrified that Combs would retaliate towards them and that they’d lose future enterprise and music alternatives in the event that they made a press release in assist of\u201d her, NBC Information reported, citing the lawsuit.<\/p>\n Since November, three extra girls have come ahead with lawsuits within the Southern District of New York alleging that they have been sexually assaulted by Combs, in accordance with NBC Information. <\/p>\n Two of the ladies mentioned they have been youngsters on the time of the alleged assaults.<\/p>\n In November, an nameless plaintiff accused Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Corridor of raping her and a good friend in 1990 or 1991 after assembly at an MCA Data occasion in New York, the place the singers \u201chave been very flirtatious and handsy\u201d and supplied them drinks, Rolling Stone<\/em> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n The go well with alleges that Combs and Corridor invited the ladies to Corridor\u2019s condo for an afterparty the place the plaintiff \u201cwas supplied extra drinks and was coerced into having intercourse with Combs,\u201d and was \u201cshocked and traumatized\u201d afterwards, earlier than \u201cCorridor barged into the room, pinned her down and compelled Jane Doe to have intercourse with him,\u201d in accordance with Rolling Stone.<\/p>\n After she spoke to her good friend, the plaintiff allegedly came upon she had additionally \u201cbeen pressured to have intercourse with Combs and Corridor in one other room,\u201d in accordance with the go well with.<\/p>\n Just a few days later, Combs allegedly visited the plaintiff and her good friend at a house the place they have been staying, the place he turned \u201cirate and started assaulting and choking Jane Doe to the purpose that she handed out,\u201d the lawsuit alleges.<\/p>\n In December, Combs was hit with one other lawsuit which claimed he had drugged and gang-raped a 17-year-old woman in 2003.<\/p>\n The plaintiff, recognized as Jane Doe, accused Combs of plying her with medication and alcohol at his New York studio after which raping her together with two associates.<\/p>\n The go well with accused Combs of a \u201cintercourse trafficking scheme,\u201d by which Jane Doe was flown by personal jet from her house in Michigan to New York.<\/p>\n In Might, after the surprising CCTV footage of Combs attacking Enterprise was revealed, former mannequin Crystal McKinney filed a new lawsuit <\/a>claiming the rapper sexually assaulted her at his recording studio in New York Metropolis in 2003.<\/p>\n McKinney mentioned she was a profitable 22-year-old mannequin when she met Combs at a restaurant throughout Males\u2019s Trend Week in Manhattan. Combs invited her to his recording studio later that night time, in accordance with the federal criticism filed in New York Metropolis.<\/p>\n The lawsuit alleged that McKinney arrived to seek out Combs consuming and smoking marijuana with a number of different males. She smoked some marijuana, which she \u201clater got here to grasp\u201d was laced with a narcotic or intoxicating substance, the lawsuit mentioned.<\/p>\n She alleged that Combs led her to the lavatory the place she was pressured to carry out oral intercourse on him.<\/p>\n Days after McKinney\u2019s lawsuit was filed, April Lampros <\/a>\u2013 who met Diddy whereas she was a pupil \u2013 claimed Diddy had sexually assaulted a number of occasions between 1995 and the early 2000s.<\/p>\n Lampros mentioned she met the rapper in 1994 whereas she was a university pupil on the Trend Institue of Know-how in New York and interning at Arista, then the mum or dad firm of Diddy\u2019s label Unhealthy Boy Leisure. <\/p>\n After assembly her at a bar in New York, she \u201csuccumbed to stress\u201d to drink alcohol after \u201cdelusional and violent outbursts\u201d, in accordance with the federal criticism filed in New York Metropolis.<\/p>\n Lampros claimed she started to really feel just like the \u201cpartitions have been closing in on her\u201d after sipping her drink and Combs escorted her again to a lodge. The lawsuit alleged Combs pressured himself on Lampros regardless of her protests. \u201cMs Lampros was being raped by Mr Combs, and he or she quickly handed out,\u201d it mentioned.<\/p>\n The rapper allegedly then \u201clove-bombed her\u201d and his advances later \u201cmanifested into an aggressive, coercive and abusive relationship based mostly on intercourse\u201d. <\/p>\n The lawsuit claimed Combs assaulted Lampros a second time by bodily forcing her to carry out oral intercourse in a storage close to his condo in Manhattan. When the coed tried to distance herself from the rapper following the assault he allegedly gave her \u201citems and empty guarantees\u201d earlier than turning \u201cindignant, threatening and forceful\u201d and claiming he would destroy her profession.<\/p>\n In 1996, Combs sexually assaulted Lampros for a 3rd time when he pressured her and his ex-girlfriend Kim Porter to take ecstasy and have intercourse collectively, the lawsuit alleged. Combs masturbated whereas he watched the ladies collectively earlier than assaulting Lampros, the submitting claimed.<\/p>\n Lampros says she ended her relationship with Combs two years later. Nevertheless, when she noticed him at an occasion on the Rockefeller Heart within the early 2000s he begged to see her once more and he or she allowed him to come back to her condo the place he kissed and touched her towards her will, the lawsuit alleged.<\/p>\n In 2023, Lampros alleges an unidentified man approached her accomplice on the time and mentioned he had seen a sexual video of Lampros and Combs years earlier. Lampros was knowledgeable \u201cMr Combs apparently recorded them having intercourse with out her figuring out and confirmed it to a number of individuals,\u201d the submitting claimed.<\/p>\n Sean Combs<\/a> has strongly denied all of the accusations towards him and vowed to \u201ccombat for my identify, my household and for the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n In a press release in December, following the lawsuit introduced by Jane Doe, he referred to as the claims \u201csickening\u201d and mentioned his accusers have been \u201con the lookout for a fast payday\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,\u201d he mentioned in a press release. \u201cI’ll combat for my identify, my household and for the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n Combs\u2019 lawyer, Shawn Holley, branded the occasions described within the lawsuit as \u201cpure fiction\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,\u201d he mentioned. \u201cWe are going to tackle these outlandish allegations in court docket and take all acceptable motion towards those that make them.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the settlement with Ventura, Ben Brafman, one other lawyer for Combs, instructed The Impartial<\/em>: \u201cSimply so we\u2019re clear, a call to settle a lawsuit, particularly in 2023, is under no circumstances an admission of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Combs\u2019 determination to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any approach undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.<\/p>\n \u201cHe’s pleased they obtained to a mutual settlement and desires Ms Ventura the perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n Shortly after the discharge of footage that exhibits Combs attacking Ms Ventura in a lodge hallway, Combs condemned his own actions and apologised in a video<\/a> posted to social media.<\/p>\n Within the clip, Combs refers back to the incident as \u201cone of many darkest occasions in his life\u201d, saying that he was \u201cf***ed up\u201d and is \u201cdisgusted by his actions\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nAll of the allegations towards Sean \u2018Diddy\u2019 Combs:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Casandra \u2018Cassie\u2019 Ventura<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Cassie](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/11\/16\/22\/newFile.jpg\")
<\/div>Rodney \u2018Lil Rod\u2019 Jones<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Joie Dickerson-Neal<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Extra girls come ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Nameless Plaintiff<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Unnamed Accuser \u2018Jane Doe\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Diddy](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/05\/22\/07\/newFile-1.jpg\")
<\/div>![\"Diddy](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/05\/20\/07\/fdb0ILDi-720.jpg\")
<\/div>Combs\u2019s response to allegations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n