In recent developments, two additional women have come forward to accuse music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs of sexual abuse. These accusations follow a previous lawsuit filed by singer Cassie, which alleged rape and physical abuse. The new lawsuits were filed just before the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law that allows victims of sexual abuse to file civil action within a one-year window, regardless of the statute of limitations.
According to the filings, the alleged acts of sexual assault, beatings, and forced drugging occurred in the early 1990s when Combs was a talent director and rising figure in New York City's hip-hop community. One of the accusers, Joi Dickerson, claims that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her after a date, secretly videotaping the assault and sharing it with friends in the music industry. This incident reportedly led to severe depression and forced her to drop out of college.
In a separate lawsuit, an unnamed woman accused Combs and R&B singer Aaron Hall of sexually assaulting her and a friend, followed by a beating several days later. The woman claims that she was coerced into having sex with Combs and was later forced to have sex with Hall. The suit also alleges that Combs showed up at the victims' home, choked the woman, and attempted to prevent them from speaking out about the abuse.
Combs' spokesperson has denied the allegations, accusing the women of exploiting the temporary extension of the statute of limitations under the New York law. Unfortunately, an email inquiry to Aaron Hall was not returned.
Attorney Tyrone Blackburn, representing one of the accusers, stated that his client was gathering medical documents and witness statements to support her case. The suit filed by Dickerson notes that she had previously filed police reports in New York and New Jersey. However, inquiries to the New York City Police Department have not yet been returned, and it is unclear if reports were filed in other jurisdictions.
These lawsuits come after Cassie Ventura made explosive allegations against Combs, claiming a pattern of abuse during their relationship. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount one day after it was filed.