A lawyer for Sean “Diddy” Combs announced on Tuesday that over 100 people—many of them children—who claim they were victims of sexual assault, rape, and exploitation by the American rapper will be suing him.
A man who once ruled American pop culture but has long been plagued by allegations of violent abuse of women and is currently incarcerated on criminal charges may face more pressure as a result of the most recent court action.
“The biggest secret in the entertainment industry, that really wasn’t a secret at all, has finally been revealed to the world,” Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said as he announced plans by 120 people, including 25 minors, to take civil action.
“The wall of silence has now been broken, and victims are coming forward.”
Combs was charged last month on three separate criminal counts, alleging that he used violence and threats to force women into drug-fueled sex parties and to sexually abuse them.
The Grammy Award winner has been the target of growing allegations since last year, when singer Cassie—real name Casandra Ventura—said Combs forced her to use drugs and physical force for more than ten years, culminating in a 2018 rape.
Since then, a number of similarly graphic cases have been filed, portraying Combs as a violent guy who preyed on women by using his celebrity status.
Combs entered a not guilty plea to the criminal accusations. He is in jail until his trial.
More than 3,000 people have come forward with charges against Combs, according to Buzbee, who made an appeal for anyone else who may have been a victim at a press conference in Houston.
He claimed that a large portion of the mistreatment Combs and those in his group are accused of perpetrating followed a pattern.
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“I would say 90 percent of the cases, these individuals were drugged,” he told reporters.
“One individual who was 22 years at the time she was assaulted, said that… when you were handed a drink — and now we know that the drink is laced with something — if you refused to drink it, you were kicked out of the party.”
Buzbee detailed claimed incidents of juvenile rape committed repeatedly by Combs and his gang.
According to him, allegations of child abuse frequently occur when money and celebrity in the music business are promised.
One boy, who was just nine years old at the time, was taken to New York to audition for Combs’ label Bad Boy Records.
“This individual was sexually abused, allegedly by Sean Combs and several other people at the studio, in the promise to both his parents and to himself of getting a record deal,” Buzbee said.
“Another incident, an individual, 15 years old at the time, flown to New York City to attend a party, was drugged and then taken into a private room, allegedly in the presence of Mr. Combs, where this female individual, a minor, was raped, and then other individuals took turns raping her.”
Buzbee commended the bravery of individuals who have come out in spite of worries of reprisals or negative reactions from their own communities.
“I expect that through this process, many powerful people, many dirty secrets will be revealed.
“We know what we are potentially up against, and as is always the case in situations like this, when a celebrity is involved, people can be downright mean and nasty.”Diddy accused by 120 alleged victims in fresh sexual assault lawsuit
