The lawsuits against Diddy don’t seem to be coming to an end. Amid a pile of official complaints against the hip-hop legend already beset by legal hassles, former Bad Boy Records singer Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit against him in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday.
The former Danity Kane member accused the label’s founder of sexual harassment and assault, sex trafficking, gender discrimination, and fraud. Richard’s complaint also alleges that she witnessed Richard brutally beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Much like Sean Combs’ previous responses to such allegations, his lawyer Erica Wolfe again denounced the claims. Calling the lawsuit against the now-disgraced artist nonsense, his legal representative told TMZ, “Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit.”
Diddy’s lawyer denounces Dawn Richard’s claims against him
Describing the Danity Kane singer as an opportunist, Wolff said, “In an effort to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now made a series of false claims in the hopes of making money — conveniently coinciding with her album release and press tour.”
Read this also | JENNIFER Lopez is set to buy a famous Los Angeles property worth $55 million despite claims she didn’t like the mansion she shared with Ben Affleck.
Further questioning the plaintiffs ethically, Wolfe alleged that Richards would not have continued to work directly with Mr. Combs for the R&B music trio Dirty Money if she had “such a negative experience” with his prior commitments to the 2004 MTV show “Making the Band” and the girl group.
Highlighting that Richard returned for the “Making the Band” reboot in 2020 and will appear on Diddy’s fifth studio album ‘The Love Album’ in 2023, Wolfe said, “Ms. Richard has set aside their 20-year friendship to try to extort money from him, but Mr. Combs confidently stands by the truth and looks forward to proving it in court.”
What is alleged in former Danity Kane member’s lawsuit?
Richard’s lawsuit states that she became embroiled in Diddy’s affairs as she began her journey as a contestant on “Making the Band.” According to her alleged experience with the mogul, Diddy allegedly called female contestants “bi**hes”, “ugly”, “lucky”, “fat” and “ugly” during auditions.
The court filing states that Richard feared for his life after he discovered that one of the highly influential producer’s former girlfriends had fallen victim to his alleged violent behaviour.
In 2005, a frustrated Kim Porter reportedly stormed out of a music studio, sparking fears in the Danity Kane member about Diddy’s intentions. The legal documents also outline that she witnessed a drunk Diddy brutally attack Cassie, choke her and drag her down the stairs of his home in Los Angeles. According to the former Dirty Money member, Diddy also threw burning eggs at Ventura and abused her, saying, “I’m asking you for my stuff; I can’t stand you, you never do things right!”
Read this also | Lil Rod admits ‘monster’ Diddy lawsuit has left him traumatized, ruined opportunities. Meanwhile, rapper tries to brush it off
Eventually, the alleged cycle of abuse against Richards grew worse as she and her Dirty Money bandmate Kalenna Harper advised the “Is It You” singer to leave Diddy and his toxic ways. Shortly after Combs found out about their relationship, he threatened her, angrily saying, “Y’all bitches can’t come into my relationship,” and adding, “Don’t tell my bitches [Cassie] What she needs to do… just make money and shut up… I destroy artistes… I destroy careers… you can disappear… you bitch want to die today.”
Sometime between 2009 and 2011, Diddy groped Richard after sneaking into her dressing room while she was wearing nothing. The 41-year-old singer additionally accused Diddy of forcibly locking her in a car with heavily tinted windows for two hours. When she called her father for help, he eventually came to New York from Baltimore. Despite threatening to report the rapper to the police, Diddy told Dawn’s father to “think about his daughter’s career.”
Judge orders Sean “Diddy” Combs to pay $100 million to Michigan inmate
Richard’s lawsuit made headlines a day after the “Bad Boy for Life” was ordered to pay $100 million in a default judgment for the alleged sexual assault of Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith at a hearing on Monday. The Michigan inmate, who is serving up to 75 years in prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping charges from 2008 and 2019, filed a civil lawsuit against Diddy in June for the alleged 1997 incident.
Read this also | Diddy named in new $666,000 lawsuit filed by jailed cartel member over drug trade; 50 Cent responds
The “Notorious B.I.G.” artist’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, recently told several media outlets, “This guy [Cardello-Smith] He is a convicted felon and sexual predator who has been convicted of 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the past 26 years. Now his resume includes committing court fraud from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him, let alone a trial. Mr. Combs is hoping to get this judgment dismissed quickly.”
