Dawn Richard, a former bandmate of Sean “Diddy” Combs, has filed a lawsuit in New York federal court accusing the music mogul of years of physical and sexual abuse during their professional relationship. The suit, which was filed on Tuesday, alleges a series of abusive behaviors by Combs dating back to 2009, including:
– **Withholding payment** for her work on albums.
– **Throwing objects** at Richard.
– Hosting parties where **underage girls were allegedly sexually assaulted**.
– Denying basic necessities like food and sleep during recording sessions.
– Making **death threats** when Richard tried to intervene in abusive situations involving Combs’s then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Richard claims that Combs manipulated her into believing that submission to his demands was essential for her career success. She credits Cassie Ventura’s previous lawsuit against Combs, which was settled in November 2023, with inspiring her to come forward about her own experiences of abuse.
In response to the lawsuit, Combs’s attorney, Erica Wolff, stated that the claims are false and accused Richard of fabricating a story to gain financially, especially given the timing coinciding with her album release. Wolff questioned why Richard continued to work with Combs if the allegations were true, expressing disappointment in her for attempting to exploit their long-standing friendship for monetary gain.
The lawsuit describes multiple instances of abuse, including derogatory comments about Richard’s appearance and severe treatment of her and other female artists. It details occasions when Combs allegedly groped Richard and denied her singing parts when she rebuffed his advances, alongside disturbing allegations of abuse against Cassie, such as choking and physical assaults.
This lawsuit marks the eighth sexual misconduct case against Diddy since Cassie’s allegations emerged, adding to a growing legal burden for the music mogul. Combs has denied all wrongdoing in these cases.
Additionally, a Michigan man recently won a $100 million default judgment against Combs after he did not contest a civil suit alleging a 1997 sexual assault, which Combs’s lawyers have dismissed as a fraud. Federal investigations into Diddy have also included raids on his properties in connection with sex trafficking allegations.