Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to remain in jail until May 2025 trial
In a press conference, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed shocking allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
A little over a month before Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial is set to begin, the hip-hop mogul has been accused of sexual assault in a new civil lawsuit.
An anonymous man from Southern California, filing as John Doe, alleged Combs sexually assaulted him on the set of a commercial in either 2022 or 2023, in a New York County Supreme Court complaint obtained by USA TODAY. He claims that while filming a “high-profile commercial,” Doe — describing himself as a “photographer/production assistant” — “struck up a conversation” with Combs.
Allegedly, after Combs invited Doe into his trailer, he demanded Doe perform oral sex on him and promised to “make your career take off.” Doe called the alleged incident “blatant sexual quid-pro-quo.”
“Combs framed this meeting as an opportunity for (Doe) to advance his career. (Doe), although hesitant, could not turn down what appeared to be a career-defining moment few ever receive,” the lawsuit reads. “The implication was clear, also, that if (Doe) did not perform oral sex on Combs to his satisfaction, his career would be over.”
Doe, who “does not recall” why Combs was on set but noted high-profile people aren’t always named on call sheets, accuses Combs of sexual battery and requests a jury trial in the case.
Combs’ legal team, in a statement to USA TODAY, maintained their stance on his innocence, writing: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed — especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims — it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”
The statement continued, “We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.”
TMZ was first to report the news.
Headline-generating Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who is among the counsel representing Doe, told USA TODAY in a statement, “We have worked hard to spear head this litigation zealously and ensure that the voices of these alleged victims are heard.”
He added, “The facts set forth in this latest complaint are egregious and highly disturbing. We look forward to presenting these facts in court.”
Combs’ attorneys have maintained his innocence as he faces dozens of sexual assault lawsuits that date back to the 1990s, as well as his criminal sex crimes charges. Combs is currently in jail after being denied bond multiple times and is scheduled to head to trial for his sex trafficking and racketeering charges on May 5.
Lawyers for Diddy, John Doe are facing off in other lawsuits
This is not the first time this team − comprising Buzbee, local New York counsel Curis Law, PLLC, and the San Diego-based AVA Law Group − is heading to court with Combs’ lawyers.
Buzbee announced in a press conference last year that he is purportedly representing more than 100 alleged victims of Combs. Among his clients is a woman who alleged in her December lawsuit that Jay-Z and Combs drugged and raped her in September 2000 when she was 13 years old.
That same Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her case in February; weeks later, Jay-Z sued Jane Doe, Buzbee and another attorney for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy and defamation.
Combs’ team has previously gone after Buzbee on procedural grounds, claiming he failed to seek pro hac vice admission that would allow him to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purposes of representing a given client.
U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, in responding to Buzbee’s request — and subsequent withdrawal of his motion — to appear in court as counsel in Candice McCrary’s case against Combs, wrote in her March 21 order that “on February 13, 2025, the Committee on Grievances of this Court denied (Buzbee’s) belated application for regular admission on the basis that he had appeared in cases without seeking admission.”
In a February Instagram post, Buzbee pushed back against reports that he had been “barred” from practicing law in New York.
“Let me be clear. I’m licensed to practice law in New York. I’m in good standing with the state bar and have always been,” he wrote alongside a copy of a court clerk’s 2019 certification of his licensure to practice “as an attorney and counselor at law in all the courts of this state.”
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
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