Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: A Timeline of Allegations

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After being hit with a number of civil lawsuits since late last year, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is now reportedly the subject of a federal investigation. The investigation and lawsuits mark a seachange in public perception of Combs, who is credited with shaping the landscape of hip-hop and R&B from the 1990s and beyond, helping to transform the genre into a global phenomenon. In 2022 Combs was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the BET Awards, and as recently as 2023 Combs received the Global Icon Award from MTV.

After the rapper and music executive’s homes were searched, public scrutiny of both Sean Combs and two of his sons skyrocketed, including disturbing allegations of abuse against Sean Combs that span decades coming to light. Here, we break down the cases ahead of the current investigations, and take a look at where the investigation stands now.

Cassie brings a lawsuit against Sean Combs accusing him of rape and abuse

In November 2023, Sean Combs was accused of rape and abuse by his former partner, recording artist Cassie. The singer, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, filed a civil complaint in federal court on November 16 in New York City alleging that Combs raped and physically abused her, including instances of beating her throughout the course of their relationship. Ventura "was held down by Mr. Combs and endured over a decade of his violent behavior and disturbed demands," the complaint said.

The complaint claimed Combs used “illegal substances and threats of violence to force Ms. Ventura into repeated unwanted sexual encounters with male sex workers.” The complaint further alleged that Combs blew up the car of rapper Kid Cudi (whose legal name is Scott Mescudi) after Combs learned that he was romantically interested in Ventura. In a statement to The New York Times, a spokesperson for Mescudi confirmed the account, saying, “This is all true.”

Combs has denied the allegations in the complaint, saying via lawyer Benjamin Brafman that he “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.” His attorney rejected the accusations, calling them offensive and outrageous. Teen Vogue has reached out to Combs but he declined additional comment through a representative.

Combs and Ventura reached a settlement just one day after the lawsuit was filed. Both parties announced on the evening of Friday November 17 that they reached a mutual agreement to resolve the case, however neither disclosed details of the settlement.

In a statement, Combs said, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”

"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.

While this suit was quickly settled, it was the first in multiple that would accuse Diddy of similar offenses.

More come forward with allegations against Combs

Among the flurry of lawsuits filed under the New York Adult Survivors Act of 2022, in which legislation granted victims of sexual assault one year to file charges after the expiration of statutes of limitations, two additional suits against Combs were filed.

In one civil suit, Joi Dickerson-Neal alleges Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1991, when she was a college student. The lawsuit’s complaints seek restitution specifically for “injuries she has suffered as a result of being drugged, sexually assaulted and abused, and being the victim of ‘revenge porn’ that Sean Combs or ‘P. Diddy’ created and distributed.” A representative for Combs denied the allegations in a statement to TMZ, calling them “made up and not credible.”

“Mr. Combs never assaulted her and she implicates companies that did not exist,” the statement continued. "This is purely a money grab and nothing more."

Another civil lawsuit filed by Liza Gardner in New York names Sean Combs, singer Aaron Hall, and music company MCA Music Entertainment Group as defendants in the case. The lawsuit alleges that in 1990, Gardner was “coerced into having sex with Combs” and sexually assaulted by Hall. (Teen Vogue reached out to Hall for comment but has not heard back.) In a statement to the New York Times, a lawyer for Combs addressed the “alleged misconduct claims from many years ago,” noting that Combs has “denied and rejected” all allegations against him, and views the lawsuits as a money grab. The lawyer added, “Because of Mr. Combs’s fame and success, he is an easy target for accusers who attempt to smear him.”

Beyond the Adult Survivors Act, in another civil lawsuit filed against Combs alleging abuse by the music mogul, an anonymous victim described a harrowing incident of sexual assault by Combs and two other men, as well as alleged sex trafficking by Combs and Harve Pierre, the then-President of Combs’ record label, Bad Boy Entertainment.

The anonymous Jane Doe alleged in the lawsuit that, in 2003, when she was only 17 and a junior in high school, after convincing her to fly from the Detroit area to his studio in New York, Pierre and Combs plied her with drugs and sexually assaulted her together with another unidentified man. “Given the brave women who have come forward against Mr. Combs and Mr. Pierre in recent weeks, Ms. Doe is doing the same,” the lawsuit said. A judge has ruled that the accuser must reveal their identity if the case goes forward, writing in their decision that “The Court cannot rely on generalized, uncorroborated claims that disclosure would harm plaintiff to justify her anonymity.”

In a statement following the suit filed by Jane Doe, Combs said “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged.” In a statement to TMZ, Pierre also denied the accusations. "This is a tale of fiction. I have never participated in, witnessed, nor heard of anything like this, ever,” he told TMZ. “These disgusting allegations are false and a desperate attempt for financial gain." Teen Vogue reached out to Pierre for comment but has not heard back.

While the allegations outlined in these lawsuits describe alleged events that would have happened in previous decades, a federal lawsuit filed against Combs by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones alleges misconduct occurring from September 2022 through November 2023 while producing Combs’ The Love Album. The 73-page civil lawsuit described an environment in which Jones claims he was, among other things, “a victim of Combs’ sexual abuse and sex trafficking organization”

In February 2024, when the lawsuit was filed, Combs' lawyer Shawn Holley said in a statement: "Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday. His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines."

Combs’ homes raided by Homeland Security

On March 25, 2024 Homeland Security Investigations, a department which often leads investigations of sex trafficking charges, deployed agents to search Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami via search warrants issued by the Southern District of New York. The searches followed the multiple lawsuits against Combs alleging sexual assault, sex trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and arms. NBC News reported that firearms were discovered at the residences and that officials seized his cellphones.

A lawyer for Sean Combs said in a statement to the New York Times the excessive show of force was “inexcusable” and reiterated that “Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities” and that Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

Officials reportedly did not confirm which criminal charges Combs was being investigated for, but videos widely circulated both on local news television in Los Angeles and online showed agents entering Combs’ home as well as placing a number of people present in handcuffs, including two of his sons, Christian “King” Combs and Justin Combs.

“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” Combs’ attorney said in the statement.

Christian “King” Combs, Sean Combs’ son, is accused of sexual assault

In a 31 page civil lawsuit filed on April 4, 2024 by Grace O’Marcaigh in Los Angeles County Superior Court, O’Marcaigh described an event that allegedly took place in 2022 when O’Marcaigh was a staffer on a yacht chartered by Sean Combs. Here, the lawsuit said Christian Combs forced O’Marcaigh to take shots of tequila, which she quickly suspected were laced with drugs. The suit alleges Combs later cornered O’Marcaigh on the yacht, after which he “became physical and extremely aggressive.”

O’Marcaigh alleges in the lawsuit that Christian sexually assaulted her, stopping only when another yacht employee entered the room. Photos in the court filing appear to show bruises on the plaintiff’s forearm.

While both Christian Combs and Sean Combs are named as defendants, the suit accuses Sean Combs of aiding and abetting. An attorney for Combs slammed O’Marcaigh’s claims in a statement to Us, saying “We have not seen this woman’s claim but I’m sure we can expect the same kind of manufactured lies … just as we saw in Rodney Jones’ lawsuit.” In a statement to NBC News, an attorney for both Combses called the suit "lewd and meritless."

This is a developing story.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can seek help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). For more resources on sexual assault, visit SafeBae, RAINN, End Rape on Campus, Know Your IX, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue