A professional athlete is accused of stopping a “drunk” Sean “Diddy” Combs from attacking an unknown man at a celebrity-filled party in 2022, according to a new lawsuit.
The man, who had established a professional business relationship with Combs at the time, was invited to a promotional party for the rapper’s liquor business – Ciroc. Identified only as John Doe, the alleged victim claimed to have been invited to the party by Combs to interact with other “high-profile guests” in the entertainment industry.
Combs invited the man to his office during a party, and the alleged victim believed the two were going to have a “business discussion,” according to the lawsuit. “However, Plaintiffs immediately realized Combs was intoxicated and acting strangely,” the lawsuit, obtained by Fox News Digital, noted. “Combs began awkwardly moving closer to the Plaintiff. While doing so, Combs removed his pants and exposed his genitals to the Plaintiff. Combs continued to approach and then grabbed the Plaintiff’s genitals through his pants, squeezing him in a violent and sexual manner.
“The situation escalated until another individual, Professional Athlete A, entered the office and, intervening, stopped Combs’ assault from the Plaintiff,” the lawsuit reads. “At this point, Plaintiff escaped from Combs and left the office. After escaping from the office, Plaintiff left the party to return home.”
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A professional athlete allegedly intervened when Sean “Diddy” Combs tried to assault a man at a Ciroc 2022 promotional party, according to a lawsuit. (Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect)
John Doe claimed he had been “shocked and confused” after an unwanted sexual encounter and that he had been “frozen momentarily” by a “strange and inappropriate sexual advance.”
The alleged victim asked for a trial by jury to determine “compensation for all physical injuries, emotional distress, psychological harm, anxiety, humiliation, physical and emotional pain and suffering, family and social disruption, and other harm.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Combs’ team for comment. The legal team previously denied that Combs abused anyone, including minors.
“As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasized, they cannot deal with all the baseless allegations of what has become a reckless media circus,” said Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff. “That said, Mr. Combs firmly and categorically rejects as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He is looking forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court, where the truth will be established based on evidence, no. speculation.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs remains in jail as civil lawsuits continue to pile up against the rapper. (Getty Images)
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Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy, type of trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to participate in prostitution in the indictment unsealed September 17. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Authorities claim Combs run criminal enterprises through businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used “firearms, threats of violence, coercion, and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse” to fulfill his sexual desires, according to the indictment unsealed by Fox News Digital.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested for sex crimes on September 16. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)
The legal team asked to “prohibit further extrajudicial statements” from potential government witnesses and attorneys in a letter dated Oct. 20 as civil lawsuits against Combs continue to pile up.
“Mr. Combs has a constitutional right to a fair trial, free from the influence of prejudicial statements in the press,” the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, states.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, is arguing for his client to be released on bail after being arrested on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Judge Arun Subramanian Combs’ trial is scheduled to start on May 5. The prosecution expects the government’s case to take three weeks to lay out, while the legal team of Combs is estimated to need one week to argue the rapper’s defense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also noted the investigation is ongoing and indicated the possibility of a changed indictment, which could add to the trial.
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If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or to rainn.org.
