Former Bad Boy Records singer Dawn Richard sues Diddy for sexual abuse

(KTLA) — A new lawsuit has been filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and the musical trio Diddy-Dirty Money, has accused Combs of verbal abuse, sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, according to court documents.

Richard alleges that Combs “manipulated” her, telling her 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 singer met Combs in 2004 when she was a contestant on his reality show, “Making the Band,” which led to her being part of his girl group Danity Kane. In the lawsuit, she alleged that Combs allegedly called contestants “fat” and “ugly” during the series.

Richard alleges that Combs, once part of Danity Kane, regularly insulted the five members. The lawsuit alleges that the hip-hop mogul picked apart their appearance, telling Richard she was “too thin” and “needed to do something about it,” referring to her face.

After the band split in 2009, Richard said she joined Diddy-Dirty Money for financial reasons, along with Combs and Kalenna Harper.

Singers Sean Diddy Combs and Dawn Richard of Diddy-Dirty Money perform during ABC’s “Good Morning America” ​​at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on June 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Richard claims that Combs forced her and Harper to work without food or sleep. She said he made her rehearse for 48 hours straight, causing her to become dehydrated, fatigued and develop stomach cramps.

Between 2009 and 2011, Richard said things between her and Combs became increasingly bad. The lawsuit alleges that Combs stormed into her dressing room and groped her “bare buttocks” and “attempted to touch her breasts,” even in front of a female stylist. Richard claimed he did this “under the guise of showing the stylist what to do.”

When she rejected his advances, Combs allegedly refused to let Richard sing parts, cut her out of songs or turned off her microphone during performances, the complaint alleges.

Richard is the eighth person to accuse Combs of sexual abuse in a recent lawsuit, months after Homeland Security officials have searched Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and MiamiThe searches were linked to a sex trafficking investigation being conducted by federal authorities in New York. Combs has not been charged criminally.

November 2023Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a shocking lawsuit accusing him of years of rape and abuse. The case was settled the next day, though Combs initially denied his ex-girlfriend’s allegations.

Then in May, CNN Surveillance footage from 2016 was released showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City. After the video surfaced, the “I’ll Be Missing You” singer said admitted to beating his ex-girlfriendin which he apologized in a video, saying he was “truly sorry” and that his actions were “unforgivable.”

Richard alleged in her lawsuit that she also witnessed Combs abusing Ventura. She said that when she and her bandmate Harper advised Ventura to leave, Combs allegedly told them not to get involved in his relationship and threatened them and their careers.

Richard is seeking compensation for “lost wages, earnings, royalties, publishing, touring and promotional revenues,” as well as restitution and punitive damages. The amount will be determined at trial.