Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sued for Sexual Abuse by Dawn Richard

Dawn Richard, a former Bad Boy Records singer, has filed a lawsuit accusing music mogul and record label founder Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault and battery, human trafficking, gender discrimination and fraud, according to court documents.

Dawn Richard filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, also suing former Bad Boy Entertainment CEO Harve Pierre.

Richard’s lawsuit was filed a day after a Michigan inmate was awarded a $100 million judgment against the rapper, a judgment that Combs’ attorney said he would seek to have overturned. The inmate, Derrick Lee Smith, had accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a party nearly 30 years ago.

Richard was a member of the girl group Danity Kane and the R&B trio Diddy Dirty Money, which also included Combs and singer Kalenna Harper. The groups were part of Bad Boy Records.

Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff, said in a statement Tuesday that the rapper is eager to prove Richards’ allegations are false in court.

“Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now concocted a series of false claims, all in the hopes of collecting a paycheck — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour,” Wolff wrote.

“If Mrs. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the band And Danity Kaneshe would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs Dirty moneyand she wouldn’t have returned for the Making the band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be listed on The Love Album “Last year,” she added.

Richard alleges in the lawsuit that during her collaboration with Combs, the rapper repeatedly groped her, was physically abusive and locked her in a car while threatening to kill her.

Also read: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Ex Casandra Ventura Responds After Attack Video

Richard met Combs during her audition for his MTV series ‘Making the band’ in 2004, when she said he began exhibiting inappropriate behavior.

“(Combs) manipulated her with mantras that submission to his perverse demands was necessary for career advancement, and instilled in her the belief that such abuse and exploitation were necessary for female artists to succeed in the music industry,” the lawsuit said.

In the lawsuit, Richard also said she witnessed Combs abusing his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassandra Ventura. Last year, Combs settled a lawsuit filed by Ventura, which accused him of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape.

Combs is one of the most influential producers and executives in hip-hop. He was a highly successful recording artist and impresario of his own Sean John clothing line.