Sean “Diddy” Combs, a prominent figure in the rap industry, is currently facing a new lawsuit over allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1991.
The plaintiff, Joi Dickerson-Neal, claims that the assault occurred during a date with the rapper, known also by stage names Puff Daddy and P Diddy. This lawsuit emerges shortly after Mr. Combs settled a separate sexual assault case brought against him by R&B singer and former partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.
In a statement to the BBC, a representative for Mr. Combs dismissed the latest allegations as “made up and not credible,” labeling the lawsuit as a mere “money grab.”
According to the legal complaint, Dickerson-Neal, who had previously appeared in one of Combs’ music videos, agreed to meet him at a Harlem restaurant on January 3, 1991. She alleges that during this encounter, Combs drugged her, leading to a state where she was unable to stand or walk independently. The lawsuit further claims that Combs then drove her to his residence, where he sexually assaulted her and secretly filmed the encounter, later showing it to others.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of the aftermath of the alleged assault, describing how Dickerson-Neal’s life spiraled downwards, impacting her mental health and leading to her dropping out of college.
This legal action coincides with the closing window of the New York Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sex crimes to pursue legal action after the statute of limitations has expired. Jonathan Goldhirsch, one of Dickerson-Neal’s lawyers, emphasized the significance of this law in providing a path to justice for his client.
The representative for Mr. Combs reiterated their stance, calling the lawsuit an abuse of a “well-intentioned law” and maintaining the non-credibility of Dickerson-Neal’s 32-year-old story.
This is not the only recent legal challenge for Combs. Earlier this month, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and sex trafficking, spanning over a decade. Although the two reached a settlement shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Combs’ lawyer stated that the settlement was not an admission of guilt.
