Sean “Diddy” Combs has more than 100 accusations against him since Nov. 16, 2023. The first trial of many is set to start on May 5, 2025.
A handful of accusers have come forward publicly to file lawsuits against Combs for many of the same reasons. There are currently 10 named accusers alleging a variety of crimes.
The list of main accusations (and accusers) includes the following:
- Years of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse (accused by Casandra Ventura)
- Drugging, sexual harassment, abuse, and distributing “revenge porn” (Joi Dickerson-Neal)
- Rape and assault (Liza Gardner)
- Sexual assault, drugging, and more (Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones)
- Sexual assault (Crystal McKinney)
- Sexual assault (April Lampros)
- Drugging and sexual assault (Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith)
- Drugging and sex trafficking (Adria English)
- Sexual assault and battery (Dawn Richard)
- Sexual assault and rape (Thalia Graves)
Combs will face federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution at the May 5, 2025, trial.
Combs is facing legal consequences for alleged severe and disgusting actions throughout his career. These accusations began with Casandra Ventura, who alleged that Combs subjected her to a long, abusive relationship from 2007 to 2018 after they met in 2005.
However, this is not where alleged criminal activities started. In the early ‘90s, Combs and the R&B singer Aaron Hall allegedly sexually assaulted Liza Gardner and a friend, Monica Case, after a music industry event. Days later, Gardner was allegedly beaten and choked until she was unconscious by Combs.
Combs is infamously known for his “Diddy Parties,” which hundreds of celebrities have attended. These celebrities are now distancing themselves from him. Many influencers and celebrities, such as Usher Raymon IV and LeBron James, are quickly deleting social media posts showing ties to Combs. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter are examples of A-list celebrities facing major backlash following Combs’ arrest.
Numerous hate comments are posted in Jay-Z’s comment section for nearly every post on X, suggesting that much of the world believes he is involved in these crimes or at least knew about them. Similar sentiments are echoed in Beyoncé’s comment sections. This negativity has impacted her social media presence, resulting in a drop of 2 million followers and almost one million likes on her posts in just a month.
“When Diddy winked at you and said, ‘Come into the VIP section,’ you knew you were going to have a really good night,” stated Rob Shuter, the publicist for Combs during much of the time of these allegations. Shuter claims that Combs was “obsessed” with Prince William and Prince Harry, but they always declined Combs’s invitations.
“Mr. Combs was obsessed with power and a deep desire to remain famous,” Shuter said in a statement. However, Shuter also confirmed that he never witnessed any sexual misconduct. “I’ve seen the imbalance of power,” he said. “What I haven’t seen is what is now alleged, which is just horrific.”
Adria English, a former adult film star, publicly claimed that she was “groomed into sex trafficking over time.” English stated that this happened numerous times during events at Combs’s infamous parties. English also accused Jacob Arabov as a co-defendant, claiming she was forced to have sex with him, and he did nothing to stop it.
Combs’ “Freak Offs,” which allegedly consisted of daily sexual abuse involving male commercial sex workers, was a contributing factor to the warrant for human trafficking and racketeering.
The United States District Court Southern District Of New York indictment revealed that the March 2024 searches of Combs’ residences in Miami, Florida, and California led to law enforcement seizing various “Freak Off” “supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant,” allegedly used by the sex workers.
These sex workers were allegedly told to perform with unwilling women who were threatened with violence, intimidation, and leverage that Combs reportedly had. Combs was also accused of using narcotics to drug the women to make it easier for him to direct and electronically record the acts.
These recordings were allegedly used as a way to blackmail these women into continuing to participate in these “Freak Offs.”
Combs’ lawyer, Jonathan Davis, defended Combs against these allegations, stating, “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone.”
Meanwhile, a new phrase has gained steam in popular culture, especially among teenagers who are interested in these cases. “No Diddy” is used to describe absurd sexual behavior. Other popular phrases on social media include “Thank you, Diddy!” and “Nice try, Diddy.”
These phrases have been seen in candy advertisements and other promotions. Many believe these comments negatively influence younger audiences, misleading them to think these allegations are not serious.
Saint Paul’s sophomore Dev Patel agrees that social media has made this case seem unserious. “People see the comments, and they think, ‘Oh, it’s just a joke,’ but in reality, he committed a series of inappropriate crimes that have changed the lives of people,” said Patel.
On the other hand, some believe that the popularity of these jokes is a good thing because it raises awareness about Combs. “I think it’s positively impacting the Diddy case. We need to get the message out about Diddy as much as possible, so comments about Diddy are good because people see the posts and realize that Diddy’s [alleged conduct] is not good, which makes them dislike him,” said Saint Paul’s senior Matthew Awbrey.
Regardless, these accusations against Sean “Diddy” Combs are changing public perceptions of the music producer. Social media has played a significant role in this situation. While some people make jokes about it, others are acknowledging the seriousness of the claims. As these allegations receive more attention, the reactions from fans and celebrities demonstrate a growing concern for accountability in the entertainment industry.
Combs remains in a Manhattan Detention Center awaiting trial after a judge denied bond.
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Feature Photo Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
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