American rapper and music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is facing fresh allegations of abuse and exploitation. Dawn Richard, a former contestant on Combs’ MTV reality show Making the Band, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit not only targets Combs but also others associated with him, accusing them of various acts of mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse toward Richard.
Background on the Allegations
Dawn Richard was a member of the all-female music group Danity Kane, formed by Combs through Making the Band. She later joined Combs’ band, Diddy – Dirty Money. Richard claims that Combs withheld her earnings, abused her, and subjected her to inhumane working conditions, often in the presence of other industry professionals who, despite the visible abuse, continued to make deals with him.
The complaint alleges Combs physically mistreated women, and Richard claims to have witnessed him assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, multiple times. The abuse reportedly included choking and strangulation, often in public or in front of industry representatives. Richard says that when she urged Ventura to leave the relationship, she was met with verbal threats from Combs.
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
In addition to the allegations of physical abuse, the lawsuit accuses Combs of exploiting Richard’s talent, denying her basic needs such as food and sleep during rehearsals, and forcing her to endure 36- to 48-hour-long rehearsals. Richard also claims that Combs sexually harassed her on several occasions. One particular incident cited in the lawsuit involved an afterparty in November 2009, following the Soul Train Awards in Atlanta. Richard alleges that the party was filled with illegal drugs and young women, some of whom appeared underage. Security and law enforcement officers allegedly guarded the doors, leaving her feeling trapped and unable to leave without alerting Combs.
Financial Exploitation
Richard’s lawsuit also details several incidents in which Combs withheld payments for appearances and tours that she was contractually obligated to attend. Combs is accused of making unwanted sexual advances and retaliating against Richard when she rejected him by denying her parts in songs, turning off her microphone during performances, and even removing her from certain tracks.
The lawsuit further claims that Combs manipulated Richard by telling her that enduring such mistreatment was necessary for career advancement. He allegedly made it seem that exploitation was a required part of success in the music industry, especially for female artists.
A Pattern of Abuse
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of accusations against Combs. In 2023, Cassandra Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing him of physical and sexual abuse. Although that case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, the allegations against Combs continue to accumulate.
Richard’s attorney praised her bravery, crediting her decision to file the lawsuit under her real name rather than anonymously, stating, “Dawn had the option of filing as a Jane Doe but bravely chose to file in her true name. We will not rest until we achieve full and complete justice for Dawn in this case.”
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Source: BBC