Less than a week after settling a lawsuit with former Bad Boy artist Cassie which accused him of rape, Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing more sexual assault allegations.
In a complaint filed on Thursday in New York Supreme Court and obtained by Variety, Joi Dickerson-Neal alleged that Combs “drugged, sexually assaulted and abused” her and that she was the victim of “revenge porn” created and distributed by the rapper. The suit — which also names Combs’ companies Bad Boy Entertainment and and Combs Enterprises as defendants — was filed under the Adult Survivors Act, which allowed alleged victims of sexual abuse a one-year period to file civil suits for offenses beyond the typical statute of limitations. Thursday marked the final day to file a complaint under the act.
Related Stories
VIP+How Celebrity Reps Are Fighting the Flood of Unauthorized AI Content
'Sunday Night Football': How to Watch Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Live Online
According to the complaint, Dickerson-Neal and Combs met while she was a student at Syracuse University in 1991 and she agreed to attend a dinner with him after appearing in one of his music videos. The suit then alleges that Combs “intentionally drugged” Dickerson-Neal during the dinner, sexually assaulted her, recorded it on video and shared the tape with others. Dickerson-Neal is suing Combs for “substantial and lifetime injuries” that she says resulted from the alleged assault, including “severe depression and suicide ideation.” Dickerson-Neal is demanding a trial by jury and compensation for alleged “mental and emotional injury, distress, pain and suffering and injury to her reputation,” according to the complaint.
Popular on Variety
In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for Combs called the allegations “made up and not credible,” adding that the suit is “purely a money grab.”
“This last-minute lawsuit is an example of how a well-intentioned law can be turned on its head,” the spokesperson told CNN. “Mr. Combs never assaulted her, and she implicates companies that did not exist.”
In a further statement to Variety on Friday, a spokesperson for Combs said: “These are fabricated claims falsely alleging misconduct from over 30 years ago and filed at the last minute. This is nothing but a money grab. Because of Mr. Combs’ fame and success, he is an easy target for anonymous accusers who lie without conscience or consequence for financial benefit. The New York Legislature surely did not intend or expect the Adult Survivors Act to be exploited by scammers. The public should be skeptical and not rush to accept these bogus allegations.”
The new lawsuit follows one filed last week by Casandra Ventura, aka Cassie, in which she alleged that Combs raped and beat her over the course of a decade. Combs denied the allegations. Just one day after the suit was filed, Ventura and Combs reached a settlement.
“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support,” Ventura said in a statement at the time.
“We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love,” Combs added.
In a follow-up statement, Combs’ attorney Ben Brafman said, “Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
Jean Smart Sings, Jokes About Eric Adams and Declares ‘Lesbians Are Obsessed With Me’ in ‘SNL’ Monologue
Flaws in Guilds’ Success-Based Streaming Residual Already Clear
‘SNL’ Jokes About Chappell Roan Fan Harassment With Bowen Yang Dressed as Celebrity Hippo Moo Deng: ‘We Both Deserve Patience and Grace’
‘SNL’ Reveals Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff, Dana Carvey as Joe Biden in Cold Open With Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris
How YouTube and Netflix Copied Each Other’s Homework
‘SNL’ Mocks VP Debate: JD Vance and Tim Walz Get Way Too Friendly, Vance Complains About Fact Checking
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
‘Joker 2’ Director Says Arthur Fleck Was Never Joker: ‘He's an Unwitting Icon’ and Joker Is ‘This Idea That Gotham People Put on Him…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Andrew Garfield Says Sex Scene With Florence Pugh in ‘We Live in Time’ Went a ‘Little Bit Further’ Than Intended: ‘We Never Heard Cut…
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2FjqasrKGTZLumw9Joqp6ZnmKxqrDDsmScp52XwG6%2FxLGsmqRdlsC0rdSlq2aZnKGyqK3Toqanq12osqS7zZ1kpZmnqMKqwIxqaWxtaGWEeYOXaA%3D%3D