Diddy Hit With New Sexual Assault Lawsuit Stemming From 1990s Relationship With Student
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been hit with another sexual assault lawsuit this week, with the latest in a string of legal complaints coming from a woman claiming the beleaguered rapper-fashion mogul subjected her to sexual assault, battery and gender-motivated violence over several years in the early days of his fame in the 1990s.
April Lampros is claiming in the lawsuit filed in New York on Thursday that she was subjected to several “terrifying sexual encounters” by Combs, whom she met in 1994 when she was 21 years old and studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. According to the suit, Lampros, 51, was showered with gifts by the rapper, who she claims also made promises to help her find a successful career in the fashion industry.
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But Lampros says in 1995 Combs began to abuse and coerce her into situations. At one point, she says she woke up in a Manhattan hotel room “nude, sore and confused” after Combs allegedly raped her. Another incident described Combs forcing Lampros to perform oral sex on him in a parking garage in front of its staff; the following year, Combs is alleged to have shoved the drug ecstasy down her throat and that of his girlfriend Kim Porter, then forcing the two to have sex with each other in front of him.
“Ms. Lampros vocally opposed this idea, but Mr. Combs quickly reminded her that she had no control over the situation as he could make her lose her job,” the lawsuit said.
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Combs’ lawyers and his rep, but did not immediately hear back on Friday.
Combs’ legal troubles have mounted after he settled a suit from singer Cassie Ventura, his ex-girlfriend accusing him of years of abuse and sexual assault. The rapper and fashion mogul has denied all claims of wrongdoing in that case, we well as others leveled against him, including those in an explosive suit filed by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones that accuses Combs of sex trafficking and grooming. Since that suit was filed, multiple women have come forward with similar accusations of abuse, assault and rape involving the near-billionaire pillar of the rap world and founder of the Sean John fashion and lifestyle brand.
Last week, CNN published a video of Combs physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles in 2016. The harrowing footage, in which Combs mercilessly throws Ventura to the ground, hits, kicks and drags her from her sweatshirt, prompted him to share an apology video on social media.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy said on Instagram. “I was fucked up — I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” Combs added. “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
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