Dawn Richard Sues Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: ‘Abuse and Exploitation’

As a contestant on Diddy’s hit MTV series Making the band Richard claims in 2004 in court documents obtained by TMZ that Combs reportedly called the candidates “fat,” “ugly,” “bitches” and “whores.”

Dawn Richard, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Kalenna Harper of the music group Dirty Money attend the announcement of the nominees, host and performers of the 2010 BET Awards in New York City. Credit: Charles Eshelman/Getty

She also claims that in 2005, she saw Combs’ ex Kim Porter leave a studio apartment crying and with bruises all over her face. Years later, Richard claims she witnessed Diddy throw Ventura against a wall, choke her, and drag her up the stairs at his Los Angeles home.

Dawn further claims she saw Combs throw a pan of piping hot eggs at Cassie while yelling at her, and in another instance he allegedly punched Ventura in the face and tried to strangle her with his bare hands.

According to the lawsuit, Richard and her Dirty Money bandmate Kalenna Harper attempted to support Cassie by urging her to leave, leading to Combs allegedly threatening them by saying, “You bitches ain’t coming in my relationship,” “Just make money and shut your f**k up,” and “You bitches wanna die today?”

As for the abuse she allegedly endured, Richard alleges that Combs forced her to rehearse for 48 hours straight without sleep, causing her to lose a significant amount of weight and develop rashes all over her body. From 2009 to 2011, Dawn also alleges that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times, touching her on her breasts and buttocks while she was undressing in a locker room.

“Mr. Combs regularly spanked Ms. Richard on her bare buttocks and often commented on her body, noting that although she was ‘too thin,’ she had an ‘a**,'” the complaint states.

In her lawsuit, Dawn is seeking damages from Richard; monetary damages for her mental pain, suffering, and emotional distress; punitive and exemplary damages; and that he cover her attorney fees.

Danity Kane and P. Diddy attend the live finale of MTV’s “Making The Band 4: The Final Chapter” at The Hudson Theatre on April 23, 2009 in New York City. Credit: Jerritt Clark/Getty

Of course, this is just one of many lawsuits Combs is currently facing.

The Bad Boy founder settled Ventura’s rape and abuse lawsuit just one day after she filed it in November 2023.

Months later, video surveillance was released of Diddy brutally attacking Cassie at a hotel in 2016. He apologized at the time, but claimed the incident was out of the ordinary.

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