A producer who worked with Diddy on his most recent album has accused the rapper and his entourage of sexual harassment and assault, and other unlawful activities.
The lawsuit also names the rapper's label partner Universal Music and its CEO Lucian Grainge as co-defendants, on the basis that the major and its boss "knew or should have known" about the unlawful conduct.
The plaintiff, Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones Jr, an artist and producer, says he was approached by Diddy, real name Sean Combs, in August 2022 and was invited to work on what became 'The Love Album: Off the Grid'. Having agreed to the collaboration, the lawsuit says, “his life has been detrimentally impacted ever since".
Combs worked with Universal's Motown division on the release of 'The Love Album'. Its former CEO, Ethiopia Habtemariam, is also named as a co-defendant. Jones says that Universal sponsored, and Grainge attended, listening parties at Combs' LA home. He alleges that sex workers and underage girls were present at those events and the drinks of female guests were routinely drugged.
"It is no secret that Mr Combs had specific bottles of alcohol designated for females, and other bottles designated for his staff, his artists, and himself", the lawsuit claims.
"Grainge knew or should have known that Mr Combs was drugging the attendees through laced bottles of DeLeon Tequila, and Ciroc Vodka", it adds. "As a sponsor of these events, defendant Grainge had a duty and obligation to ensure that sex workers and underaged girls were not present, and that Mr Combs was not spiking the alcohol with date rape drugs".
According to his lawsuit, Jones worked with Combs for over a year from September 2022, frequently staying at properties owned by the rapper in LA, New York and Miami. "Throughout his time with Mr Combs", the lawsuit says, "Mr Jones witnessed, experienced and endured many things that went far beyond his role as a producer on 'The Love Album'".
Among other things, Jones claims that part of his role when working for Combs was to solicit sex workers for the rapper and his entourage. Combs also forced Jones to engage in unsolicited sex acts with those workers. On more than one occasion he believes he was drugged by Combs, later waking up in bed naked with a sex worker. And at one party he says he was sexually assaulted by a cousin of the rapper Yung Miami, likely at the request of Combs.
Jones also accuses the rapper himself of sexual harassment, stating that he was repeatedly groped by Combs, who was also sometimes naked in his presence. He says he complained about this to Combs' Chief Of Staff, Kristina Khorram, who responded, “Sean will be Sean", adding that the groping was the rapper's way of “showing that he likes you".
It's also alleged that Combs tried to "groom and entice Mr Jones to engage in homosexuality", showing him an explicit video of producer Stevie J - who Jones idolised - having sex with another man. "This was done to ease Mr Jones’ anxiety concerning homosexuality", it’s claimed.
"Mr Jones believes that Mr Combs was grooming him to pass him off to his friends", the lawsuit adds. That fear allegedly "became a reality" during an incident involving the actor Cuba Gooding Jr, when Jones had to use force to stop unsolicited groping.
Elsewhere there are allegations about drug use and firearms, including an incident at an LA recording studio where a friend of Combs' son Justin was shot. Jones says that while he rushed to help the friend, Combs disappeared and subsequently ordered his staff to tell the authorities that the shooting had happened outside the studio complex.
Finally, there is also a rights and royalties dispute in relation to Jones' work on 'The Love Album'. That’s something Diddy may well hone in on, possibly seeking to suggest that the disagreement over copyright and royalty payments is the real motivation for the lawsuit.
For now, a legal rep for Combs told reporters, “We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them".
This is the latest in a number of lawsuits filed in the US courts accusing Combs of sexual harassment and assault. The others were prompted by the New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which provided a one year window in which the alleged victims of sexual assault could file new legal proceedings, even if alleged incidents occurred sufficiently long ago that lawsuits would usually be barred by the statue of limitations.
The highest profile of those lawsuits was filed by Combs' former partner Cassie Ventura, though that action was immediately settled.