At least 100 individuals are set to file lawsuits against rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for accusations of sexual assault, rape, and sexual exploitation, according to Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee.
Some of the alleged victims, including minors, claim they were abused when they were as young as nine years old.
“This is an important matter that we intend to aggressively pursue,” Mr. Buzbee stated during a press briefing, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations. Erica Wolff, Sean Combs’ lawyer, refuted the claims, stating that the rapper “emphatically and categorically” denies all accusations. She described the allegations as “false and defamatory.”
At a press conference held on Tuesday, Buzbee further emphasized his team’s commitment to thoroughly investigating the case, stating that they “will leave no stone unturned to find potentially liable parties” and to hold accountable “any individual or entity who participated in or benefited from this egregious behavior.”
In a response issued to the BBC, Wolff asserted that Combs “looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court,” emphasizing that the truth would emerge through “evidence, not speculation.”
This latest development follows the recent criminal charges Combs faces, including racketeering and sex trafficking.
The hip-hop icon, who was arrested last week, remains in federal custody after being denied bail, a decision that is currently under appeal.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Combs has consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing.
Buzbee, who is licensed to practice law in both Texas and New York, revealed that he is currently representing 120 alleged victims, including both men and women from over 25 states across the U.S. Shockingly, 25 of these alleged victims were minors at the time of the alleged abuses, which range from 1991 up until this year.
The lawyer noted that the majority of these incidents occurred after 2015, and took place in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.
A common theme in many of the plaintiffs’ accounts is that they were allegedly date raped after attending parties hosted by Combs.
These events, according to Buzbee, took place in various high-profile venues, private residences, and luxury hotels, often celebrating album releases, New Year’s Eve, U.S. Independence Day, or even auditions for upcoming projects.
In a disturbing account, one male victim, who was only nine years old at the time, alleges that he was sexually abused by Combs and his associates at a recording studio in New York.
The boy had been trying to secure a record deal when the alleged assault occurred. His lawyer relayed his statement, “Had he not been in power, I feel I could’ve been something great. I quit the industry because of what Sean Combs did to me.”
Another victim, also a minor during the time of the alleged abuse, claimed he was promised fame by Combs but was told he would need to meet the rapper alone, without his parents.
Once isolated in a private setting, the victim’s lawyer contends that Combs demanded the boy perform oral sex on him.
Buzbee also presented the case of a 15-year-old girl who was reportedly flown to New York for a party hosted by Combs, where she claims she was raped by him and other individuals.
The lawyer suggested there was a clear pattern in the assaults, with victims often being served drinks allegedly laced with substances before being sexually assaulted.
“The biggest secret in the entertainment industry has finally been revealed to the world,” Buzbee declared, adding that “the wall of silence has now been broken.”
He made it clear that each alleged victim will file an individual lawsuit, as this is not being pursued as a class action.
Attorney Andrew Van Arsdale, who is working alongside Buzbee through the AVA law group, noted that his firm had received over 3,000 phone calls from individuals claiming to have suffered abuse at the hands of Sean Combs.
Van Arsdale added that in addition to 120 victims they are currently represented they are processing of evaluating another potential 100 cases.
