NEW YORK, United States— Sean Combs, the prominent music mogul known as “Diddy,” is now facing fresh legal battles as a series of new lawsuits were filed against him in Manhattan. The latest allegations span from 1995 to 2021, with the claims being brought by both male and female plaintiffs under anonymity, as Jane Does and John Does.
This latest wave of accusations marks a deepening crisis for the 54-year-old music icon, who has been at the center of mounting legal scrutiny. Among the newly filed cases, one lawsuit details an accusation from a man who claims he was sexually assaulted by Combs in 1998 when he was just 16 years old. The alleged incident occurred at one of Combs’ notorious white parties in the Hamptons, where the teen says the mogul inappropriately touched him and suggested that complying with such actions was part of breaking into the music industry.
The legal team behind these complaints, led by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, has been working on a larger effort to hold Combs accountable. Buzbee, whose clients include more than 100 alleged victims, indicated that more lawsuits would be forthcoming as evidence continues to surface. “We anticipate filing additional cases against Mr. Combs and others in the coming weeks,” Buzbee said in a statement.
These civil suits come on top of the criminal charges already leveled against Combs, which include federal counts of sex trafficking and racketeering. Authorities arrested him last month, accusing him of orchestrating a network of employees and associates to lure women into drug-fueled parties where they were allegedly subjected to abuse and exploitation.
Combs, who has consistently denied the accusations, is currently being held without bail as prosecutors argue there is a risk of witness tampering. His criminal trial is set to begin in May 2025, and prosecutors have suggested that additional charges may be added as the investigation unfolds.
The tide of public accusations against the Grammy-winning artist began to swell late last year, when his former partner, singer Cassie (Casandra Ventura), came forward with claims that Combs subjected her to years of physical and emotional abuse, culminating in an alleged rape in 2018. These latest developments further intensify the legal challenges facing Combs as his once untouchable legacy continues to unravel.
