Final week, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to 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 power her to have intercourse with male intercourse staff 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” in recent times, even altering his center identify to Love, however he has a protracted historical past of violence, courting 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 government Steve Stoute and rappers like J. Cole and Drake.
Combs’ lawyer Ben Brafman informed the New York Instances 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, below the specter of writing a harmful e book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Regardless of withdrawing her preliminary menace, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to submitting a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s repute 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 through the years:
CCNY Tragedy, 1991
Combs co-promoted a star basketball recreation and live performance at Metropolis School of New York the place 9 folks died and 29 folks had 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 printed a 67-page report referred to as “A Failure Of Accountability” that cited Combs for hiring insufficient, inexperienced safety. Combs settled a slew of lawsuits from relations of attendees who died on the gymnasium, finalizing the final go well with in 2000.
Jake Robles Taking pictures, 1995
Combs and Loss of life Row Data co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight had been as soon as pals, however the animosity that fueled the violent rivalry between Loss of life Row and Dangerous Boy began as soon as Knight’s buddy (and safety guard) Jake Robles was killed exterior an Atlanta nightclub after an argument with the Dangerous Boy camp. The boys had been celebrating musician Jermaine Dupri’s birthday at Platinum Metropolis Membership when, as then-Fulton County Sheriff Deputy Chris Howard informed police, an argument started between members of the Dangerous Boy and Loss of life Row Data entourage. Howard mentioned that he escorted Combs and his friends exterior to depart the membership, and thought the coast was clear to permit Knight and his entourage to depart. However, as Howard informed the Los Angeles Instances, “[Knight’s] companion was nearly able to get into the limo when unexpectedly Puffy’s guys got here from across the nook . . . and certainly one of them had a gun.” Howard mentioned he chased the person, who handed the gun to a different individual, who shot Robles “two or 3 times.” In line with the Instances, the individual 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 liable for.
Attacking Steve Stoute, 1998
In 1998, Combs and two different males attacked Steve Stoute after the music government, 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 needed 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 felony mischief. Stoute claims that his arm and jaw was damaged within the assault, however Combs denied any bones had been damaged to MTV, additionally telling the community, “I mainly went to his workplace, and what occurred in his workplace, I actually can’t talk about 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 realize, I simply disenchanted myself.” Combs was sentenced to a one-day anger administration class.
Membership New York Taking pictures, 1999
In late December 1999, Combs and his Dangerous Boy signee Jamal “Shyne” Barrow had been partying at Membership New York when Diddy knocked a drink out of Matthew “Scar” Allen’s arms. Allen acquired 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 3 times within the crowded membership. Three folks had been shot. Combs, who was arrested with two nine-millimeter weapons in his automotive, was charged with 4 weapons expenses and for bribing his driver to assert that the weapons had been his personal. A witness on the trial mentioned she noticed each Shyne and Combs shoot their weapons, however Combs was acquitted on all expenses, whereas Shyne was discovered responsible of 5 of his eight expenses 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 Complicated {that a} “visibly intoxicated” Combs accosted Kendrick Lamar about his fiery verse on Huge 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 they usually acquired right into a struggle. The New York Put up, nevertheless, reported that the scuffle occurred after “J. Cole was saying inappropriate issues to Sean Combs and his girlfriend, Cassie.” A witness informed them that “Some pushing and shoving occurred. No punches had been thrown, but it surely was a visual disturbance.” Each males instantly denied a struggle came about, 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-Instances reported that the 2 acquired into an argument exterior of LIV nightclub throughout DJ Khaled’s occasion for Basel Weekend. Phrases had 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 acquired 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 similar 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. In line with 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 expenses which are being reported are wholly inaccurate. What we will say now could be that any actions taken by Mr. Combs had been solely defensive in nature to guard himself and his son.” The LA district lawyer determined to not file assault expenses in opposition to Combs.
Gina Huynh Alleges Abuse
In 2019 Combs’ ex Gina Huynh informed blogger Tasha Okay 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 in addition punched her at the back of the top. She informed Tasha Okay that, “He was mentally, emotionally and bodily abusing me. He would all the time examine me to Cassie and inform me that I’m the unhealthy one, she’s an excellent one.” She additionally mentioned that “everybody” in Combs’ circle “allowed” the abuse to happen.
Cassie Information Civil Go well with Towards Combs
On Nov. sixteenth, Combs’ ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a federal lawsuit in opposition to Combs in New York alleging years of assault. Her lawsuit accommodates 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 means of a rep, Cudi mentioned 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 scholar sued Combs for allegedly drugging, raping, and recording her, afterwards allegedly displaying 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 a single week
Simply earlier than New York State’s Grownup Survivors Act’s Nov. 23 deadline, a second nameless accuser filed a lawsuit in opposition to Combs alleging sexual assault. (The legislation, handed in Might 2022, opened a window for folks over the age of 18 on the time of alleged sexual offenses to file lawsuits in opposition to alleged perpetrators, overriding statutes of limitations that sometimes minimize 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 grievance alleges. “Combs was trying to find Jane Doe’s buddy as a result of he was fearful that she would inform the lady 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.)