Sean “Diddy” Combs announces his alliance with Diageo, the world’s leading spirits, wine and beer company, during a press conference at Stone Rose on October 24, 2007 in New York City.
George Napolitano | Movie magic | Getty Images
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was hit with a lawsuit Thursday accusing him of raping and sex trafficking a younger female artist over the course of a decade.
Combs’ accuser, Casandra Ventura, said in a statement: “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story and stand up on behalf of myself and on behalf of other women experiencing violence and abuse. in their relationships.”
“With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act quickly approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak about the trauma I have experienced and will spend the rest of my life recovering from,” Ventura said.
The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court says that Combs, who was 37 years old at the time, lured the then 19-year-old Ventura into a professional relationship in 2005 by signing her to his label, Bad Boy Records, and within a few years had lured to his label. a sexual relationship, and introduced her to a lifestyle of excessive alcohol and substance abuse.
The lawsuit alleges that Combs raped Ventura in her home after she tried to leave him, “blew up a man’s car after learning he was romantically interested in” Ventura, “frequently hit, punched, kicked and stomped her.”
And it says Combs, who has seven children, “forced Ms. Ventura to perform sexual acts with male sex workers while she masturbated and filmed the encounters.”
“Throughout their relationship, Mr. Combs was prone to uncontrollable anger and frequently brutally beat Ms. Ventura,” the complaint alleges.
“These abuses were witnessed by Mr. Combs’ staff and employees of Bad Boy Entertainment and Mr. Combs’ affiliated companies, but no one dared to speak out against their terrifying and fierce boss.”
In addition to Combs, the lawsuit also names Bad Boy Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Epic Records and Combs Enterprises as defendants.
Ben Brafman, an attorney for Combs, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Ventura’s allegations.
One of the most influential and successful managers in music, Combs founded the hip-hop label Bad Boy in the early 1990s. He also launched a clothing label, Sean John, and helped develop the Ciroc vodka brand. Last year, Forbes estimated his net worth at $1 billion.
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