Who Is Dawn Richard? Latest Sean Combs Lawsuit Explained.

Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard filed a federal lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs on Tuesday, accusing the embattled music mogul of sexual assault, harassment, intentional emotional distress and wrongful imprisonment. She is the ninth person to come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Combs since his former partner, the singer Cassie (whose real name is Casandra Ventura), filed a bombshell federal lawsuit in November 2023 accusing him of rape and physical abuse. Lawyers for Combs have denied the claims made by Richard and other accusers, and the rapper and Ventura reached a settlement last year.

In Richard’s lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, the singer accuses Combs of manipulating her for nearly a decade and leading her to believe that “abuse and exploitation were necessary for female artists to succeed in the music industry.” Richard began to realize the extent of Combs’ alleged abuse of her when Ventura came forward last year, the lawsuit says. Richard also alleges that Combs withheld compensation for her work.

In a statement to VarietyCombs’ attorney Erica Wolff denied the allegations, accusing Richard of “concocting a series of false claims, all in the hopes of collecting a paycheck.” “It is unfortunate that Ms. Richard set aside their 20-year friendship to try to get money from him,” she continued, “but Mr. Combs is confident in the truth and looks forward to proving it in court.”

In the lawsuit, Richard alleges that from the moment she entered the audition process for the MTV show Making the bandCombs engaged in verbally abusive behavior toward female contestants, calling them “fat,” “ugly,” and “whores.” She also alleges that Danity Kane members were regularly deprived of food and sleep, and that she lost weight due to anxiety and overwork. According to the lawsuit, Combs responded to the performers’ complaints by saying, “You bitches don’t want this.” During this period, Richard accuses Combs of attending professional meetings in his underwear and refusing to put clothes on when she asked him to, making her feel powerless.

Richard alleges in the lawsuit that she continued to work for Diddy after Danity Kane broke up in 2009 due to her financial hardship. Shortly after she joined his new group Diddy–Dirty Money, Richard alleges she witnessed Combs choking Ventura and throwing a hot pan at her after he felt she had undercooked her eggs. He then dragged Ventura upstairs, the lawsuit alleges, where Richard could hear shattering glass and banging noises. Richard alleges that Combs warned her and her bandmate Kalenna Harper, who also witnessed the alleged incident, the next day that “if you say anything, there will be consequences,” adding that “people end up going missing.”

The lawsuit details a party Combs threw in or around November 2009, during which Richard alleges she witnessed young women — some of whom appeared to be underage — being given large amounts of alcohol and drugs. “Many of them appeared listless or were unconscious while Mr. Combs and his guests engaged in sexual acts with them,” the lawsuit alleges. “Ms. Richard believed her presence at the party was a test to see if Mr. Combs could trust her. Mr. Combs repeatedly said things like, ‘This is a buffet, enjoy yourself; this is what we do, this is how we party.'”

Richard alleges that she and Harper witnessed Combs abusing Ventura on other occasions, including at a dinner party where guests included Interscope’s then-CEO Jimmy Iovine, Ne-Yo and Usher. When Combs learned that the women were trying to encourage Ventura to end the relationship, Richard claims he became enraged and threatened them.

The lawsuit also accuses Combs of groping Richard multiple times during her time in Diddy–Dirty Money and entering her dressing room without her consent while she was undressed. She alleges that after she resisted his advances, he retaliated against her by removing her from songs, banning her from several performances, and turning off the microphone while she was performing.

Richard says in the lawsuit that she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and panic attacks as a result of Combs’ alleged abusive behavior. She is seeking an undisclosed amount in compensatory and punitive damages.