By Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused in two new lawsuits filed Monday of drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in a New York City hotel room in 2005 and similarly assaulting a 17-year-old would-be contestant on the reality television series “Making the Band” in 2008.
The lawsuits, filed in state Supreme Court in New York, are the latest in a series of allegations against Combs, who is currently incarcerated in a New York City jail after pleading not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges. The indictment, unsealed the day after his Sept. 16 arrest, includes allegations that he coerced and abused women and silenced victims through blackmail and violence.
In the first lawsuit, an unidentified 10-year-old boy who had traveled with his parents from California for meetings with music industry representatives claims he was given a drug-laced soda by a Combs’ associate during what was supposed to be an audition for Combs. The Bad Boy Records founder then allegedly sexually assaulted the child, who eventually lost consciousness. When the boy awoke, Combs reportedly threatened to severely harm the child’s parents if he told anyone about the incident.
The second lawsuit alleges that Combs forced a 17-year-old unidentified male into sexual acts with Combs and a bodyguard during a three-day audition for the “Making the Band” television show, which Combs produced. When the aspiring contestant expressed reservations, he was allegedly eliminated from the competition and unable to return to the music industry for seven years.
Combs’ lawyers have denied the two new claims and accused the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Anthony Buzbee, who also represents accusers in earlier lawsuits, of seeking publicity. In an emailed statement, they said, “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”
Both lawsuits were brought under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which allows survivors to bring lawsuits even if the statute of limitations has passed.
The allegations against Combs have sent shockwaves through the music industry and beyond, as the iconic producer and entrepreneur has long been a prominent figure in popular culture. The severity of the accusations, particularly those involving minors, has led to widespread condemnation and calls for a thorough investigation.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the public will be closely watching to see how the courts handle these high-profile cases and whether justice will be served for the alleged victims. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for Combs’ career and legacy, as well as for the broader conversation surrounding sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.
