Hip-hop heist star Sean “Diddy” Combs is under fire for launching fresh sexual assault claims with more than 120 witnesses set to sue him, according to a Texas attorney Tony Buzbee during a press conference Tuesday. The accusations are 20 years in length, and range from violent sexual assault, rape and sexual abuse of children as young as 9 years old at the time of the incidents.
Buzbee, who’s also represented victims in cases like the Deshaun Watson sexual assault case and the Travis Scott Astroworld tragedy, has stated that there are photos, video, text messages, and other evidence against Combs. More than 3,000 people have approached Buzbee’s office with claims against the pop star, and the lawsuits will be filed in other states over the next 30 days, he said.
We will show the agents that enabled this to be happening behind closed doors, we will show them that we are, we will be 100% certain of this before we do. These names will surprise you.”
Allegations Against Combs
The charges against Combs have only gotten stronger since his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura sued him last year. Ventura accused Combs of physical assault, sexual abuse and sex trafficking during their eight-year relationship. Combs disputed the charges but arranged to plead not guilty with Ventura for an undisclosed amount. Others had sued Combs in the months after Ventura’s complaint – including a lawsuit from the former Danity Kane frontwoman Dawn Richard who claims he raped, assaulted and incarcerated her.
Accusers are mostly from New York, California, Georgia and Florida, says lawyer Buzbee. Among the other allegations are claims that Combs used controlled substances to have sex with others, sometimes with minors.’ “It’s pretty much an already very long list, but this case will throw a lot of people in the middle,” Buzbee said, referring to prominent members of the entertainment world.
Legal Answer and Combs’ Reply
Combs is being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after being indicted on sex trafficking, racketeering and facilitating prostitution. The Southern District of New York unsealed the indictment last month, and Combs pleaded not guilty. He has an attorney’s team, which now includes prominent attorney Alexandra Shapiro, Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo, who is appealing twice-denying him bail.
In an official statement to these increasing accusations, Combs’ lawyer Erica Wolff said that Combs “emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors.” “Mr Combs looks forward to proving his innocence in court and will do so when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be determined on evidence, not speculation,” Wolff said.
Bigger Picture and Larger Significance
It’s part of a larger reckoning in the entertainment business that’s seen elite figures stand trial for sexual assault. The accusation of Combs, spanning over 20 years, represents a paradigm shift in how the industry shields celebs from scrutiny. After Buzbee has formally admitted the presence of potentially relevant videos, texts and other material, the case already got lots of press coverage.
Besides Combs, the case will hopefully show who else is involved and what’s behind the “enablers” in the space. Buzbee explicitly mentioned the case could involve several other top players, resulting in a “dodgy media circus” Combs’ lawyers have been grappling with.
Previous Court Cases and Growing Database of Convicts
Sean Combs has fought legal battles over the past few years. His ex-wife Ventura was the focus of media attention when surveillance footage of Combs beating her in a Los Angeles hotel came to light. Combs apologized publicly for his behavior but has continued to deny any sexual misconduct or trafficking.
Many of Combs’s lawsuits have been brought in New York under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which allows survivors to pursue a claim of sexual abuse even after the statute of limitations runs out. This has allowed some of the accusers to make public statements decades after the allegations allegedly occurred.
And yet, regardless of how serious the allegations seem, Combs maintains his innocence, and his attorneys are gearing up for a bruising case. With lawsuits accruing, the case might wreak profound havoc, not just on Combs, but also on other influential music and entertainment industry executives who could also be indicted.
To read more on this unfolding narrative, visit NBC News and Fox News.
