Sean “Diddy” Combs, a prominent rapper and music mogul, is now facing additional allegations of sexual assault. These new claims were made by Adria English, a former porn star, who recently filed a complaint against him in New York. This case adds to a growing list of lawsuits brought against Mr. Combs in recent months.
Despite these allegations, Mr. Combs has consistently denied all accusations of sexual assault and physical abuse, including the latest ones. According to NBC News, he is also reportedly the subject of a federal criminal investigation, though no charges have been filed yet.
Mr. Combs’s legal troubles intensified after his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, accused him of abuse in November. Earlier this year, Mr. Combs apologized after a video surfaced showing him attacking Ms. Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016.
The new lawsuit in New York claims that Mr. Combs “forced and coerced (Ms. English) to engage in sex work for him” at various parties. It also alleges that he threatened to ruin her career if she did not comply. Ms. English’s 114-page filing details 33 allegations against Mr. Combs and his associates, covering events from 2004 to 2009.
In response, Mr. Combs’s lawyer told US media, “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone.” The lawyer expressed confidence that Mr. Combs would prevail against these and other baseless claims in court.
Ms. English joins a number of women who have made similar accusations against Mr. Combs recently. Last November, Mr. Combs settled a lawsuit with Ms. Ventura, who had accused him of rape and sex trafficking over a decade. His team clarified that the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.
Various allegations of sexual and physical abuse have surfaced against Mr. Combs since then. Earlier this year, his homes in Los Angeles and Miami, Florida, were raided as part of a federal investigation into human trafficking. NBC News reports that Mr. Combs has been notified he is a subject of this ongoing federal criminal investigation, citing sources familiar with his legal issues. However, details of the investigation have not been disclosed, and neither federal officials nor Mr. Combs’s legal team have commented specifically on the matter.