Note: This article contains references to alleged sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sued by a woman alleging that he repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted her, one time leading to her impregnation and eventual miscarriage. It is the latest in a nearly yearlong string of lawsuits and criminal charges against Diddy, who is currently incarcerated on federal charges—the last lawsuit came earlier this week.
Documents filed today in New York’s Supreme Court, and viewed by Pitchfork, allege that Diddy coerced, harassed, drugged, and assaulted the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, on several occasions over the course of four years. She says she met Diddy overseas, in the autumn of 2020, after he offered to cover her travel to and from the destination. He continued to arrange travel for a number of subsequent meetings, though the lawsuit alleges that Combs would send drivers before she had agreed to travel. “[Diddy], and his agents and employees, would use coercive and harassing language to compel her to comply,” the lawsuit alleges.
In April 2022, the lawsuit claims, Diddy “forced Jane Doe to have vaginal intercourse without her consent” at his home. The same spring, the woman says she woke up one morning with bruises and bite marks on her feet, not knowing how they got there. The lawsuit describes several occasions on which she was “compelled to ingest an unknown substance,” one of which turned out to be ketamine, causing her to black out and intermittently lose consciousness throughout the night. She says she received a positive result for a pregnancy test soon after, and a Diddy associate allegedly called her repeatedly to tell her to have an abortion. Doe ultimately suffered a miscarriage, according to the complaint.
Doe says that she did not speak with Diddy or his team “for approximately three months” after the alleged miscarriage, but she resumed communication with him in late 2022, at which point he “began compelling her to travel with him and to him” and harassing her “through calls, texts and third parties until she complied.”
“At every visit, [Diddy] would make her ‘perform a show’ for him and would ply her with alcohol and substances until she passed out—she would wake up with bruising and injuries but with no recollection of how she sustained her injuries,” the lawsuit contends. “This continued until July of 2024.” Further, Doe alleges that Diddy “and his agents at his request would record sexual encounters with [her] without her permission.”
Jane Doe is suing Diddy for sexual assault and sexual harassment, assault, sexual battery, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, a violation of New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, and more. She explains that she is suing Diddy under a pseudonym because the musician “has caused [her] to fear for her safety.”
Jane Doe is being represented by attorneys Joseph L. Ciaccio and Marie Napoli. The latter lawyer said in a statement to Pitchfork, “Powerful figures in the entertainment industry have long exploited aspiring artists and fans. Recent high-profile lawsuits aim to hold these celebrities accountable, potentially transforming industry practices and providing justice for victims. No one is above the law. Fame and wealth do not protect Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs from serious allegations of sex trafficking and abuse.”
Pitchfork has also reached out to representatives for Sean “Diddy” Combs for comment.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
https://rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
