Sean “Diddy” Combs has more trouble coming his way it seems.
The rap mogul is involved in a protracted court dispute due to a number of new accusations of sexual abuse. Tony Buzbee, a well-known lawyer in Texas, revealed that he is defending 120 people, including 25 minors, who have come forward with startling allegations of abuse that span more than 25 years.
At a press conference that was streamed online, Buzbee shared harrowing details of the alleged abuse, some of which involved children as young as 9 years old. According to him, the claims have undergone rigorous vetting and corroboration.
Among Buzbee’s clientele are victims who were minors during the said incidents, numbering 60 men and 60 women. In one instance, a 9-year-old child claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Combs and other people in his Manhattan Bad Boy studios while he was pursuing a record deal. Combs allegedly threatened to make another young boy engage in sexual activity away from his parents.
The claims also include a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly drugged and raped at a party in New York City. According to Buzbee, such events — including album release parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and Combs’ infamous ‘White Parties’ — were often the settings where these alleged assaults occurred. “All were seeking either TV or some sort of music career with promises of, you know, ‘We’re going to make you a star,” Buzbee said. “Instead, basically, [Combs] did things to them so they don’t want to have anything to do with the entertainment industry ever again,” he said.
“I expect that through this process, many powerful people will be exposed,” Buzbee said, declining to name any names. “Some of this behaviour occurred at private residences of people that we all know. … The names that we’re going to name, assuming that our investigators confirm and corroborate what we’ve been told, are names that will shock you,” Buzbee said.
Diddy’s Statement:
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Combs’ lawyer, Erica Wolff, said the music mogul denies the allegations. “As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasized, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus. That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation,” Wolff said.
Diddy is currently behind bars on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.