Another Lawsuit Filed Against Sean “Diddy” Combs, Alleging Rape and Video Recording of the Attack
A new lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing the music mogul and his head of security, Joseph Sherman, of raping a woman at his New York recording studio in 2001. The case adds to a growing number of allegations against Combs, who was arrested last week on federal sex trafficking charges.
Allegations of Assault at Bad Boy Recording Studios
The plaintiff, Thalia Graves, claims that in the summer of 2001, at 25, she was dating a Combs executive when she was lured to a meeting at Bad Boy Recording Studios. According to the lawsuit, Combs and Sherman picked her up in an SUV, where she was given a drink that was likely drugged. Graves alleges she lost consciousness and awoke bound in Combs’ office, where the two men raped her, slammed her head against a pool table, and ignored her cries for help.
Graves, speaking at a news conference alongside her attorney, Gloria Allred, tearfully recounted the emotional toll the assault has taken on her. “It has been hard for me to trust others, form healthy relationships, or even feel safe in my own skin,” she said. She described enduring years of “flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts,” calling the pain “a scar that may never fully heal.”
Combs Faces Federal Charges Amidst Allegations of Sexual Violence
Combs is currently being held in New York without bail on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Federal prosecutors allege that Combs orchestrated a network that facilitated sexual crimes, using blackmail and threats to silence victims. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his attorney asserting his innocence and vowing to fight the accusations. His representatives have yet to respond to this latest lawsuit.
Graves’ Lawsuit and the Legal Path Forward
Graves’ lawsuit, filed under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, takes advantage of a two-year window allowing victims of older sexual assaults to sue. The suit also claims that after Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie filed a similar lawsuit last year, Graves learned that Combs had recorded her rape and sold it as pornography. Graves is seeking damages, and the suit demands that all video copies be destroyed.
While the criminal charges against Combs focus on incidents after 2008, Graves’ lawsuit introduces earlier allegations, adding to the growing legal and public scrutiny surrounding the influential music executive. The lawsuit also names several companies owned by Combs as defendants.
The case marks a significant moment in the ongoing investigation of Combs’ alleged criminal activity, as the claims of sexual abuse and violence continue to mount. Whether this new lawsuit will impact the federal case remains to be seen. Still, the allegations highlight the broader legal battle the mogul faces.
Seeking Justice
As Graves’ case proceeds through the courts, it joins a series of lawsuits reshaping public perceptions of one of the most prominent figures in the music industry. Her pursuit of justice, alongside other accusers, continues to amplify conversations surrounding sexual assault and accountability within powerful industries like entertainment.