A new lawsuit filed in New York alleges that music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs raped a 16-year-old babysitter in 2000, adding to the mounting legal troubles facing the rap industry veteran.
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, claims she encountered Combs and two of his employees while leaving her babysitting job at a Manhattan apartment building where Combs' romantic partner lived. According to the lawsuit, after repeatedly offering her a ride home, Combs convinced the teenager to get in his car.
The complaint states that instead of taking her home, Combs and his associates drove her to another location. The plaintiff alleges she was given a drink that made her feel "groggy" and "unsteady" before Combs sexually assaulted her. She was later dropped off in the lobby of her apartment building.
Through his legal team, Combs has denied the allegations. "Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted, or sex trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor," his attorneys stated. They added that Combs is "confident he will prevail in court."
This lawsuit joins over 30 other cases accusing Combs of sexual misconduct. The hip-hop mogul is currently detained in Brooklyn awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, scheduled for May. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
The latest allegations come amid increased scrutiny of Combs following a series of civil lawsuits filed since November 2023, when his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura accused him of rape and abuse in a lawsuit that was quickly settled out of court.
Federal authorities raided Combs' homes in Miami and Los Angeles earlier this year as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation. If convicted of the federal charges, Combs could face life imprisonment.