Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs has been accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy as the rapper threatened he could “make or break” his career, according to a new lawsuit.
The alleged victim had auditioned for the reality TV show Making the Band, during which he was introduced to Combs and his unidentified bodyguard. Making the Band aired on various networks, including MTV, from 2000 to 2009.
The program followed aspiring singers as they competed for the chance to form a new music group and sign a record deal. Diddy was a producer for the show.
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Court documents obtained by The Mirror US state: “Throughout the series, contestants underwent rigorous challenges, including vocal and dance training, live performances, and personal development tasks, often under the intense scrutiny of industry professionals like Combs.”
The alleged assault against the 17-year-old boy is said to have taken place in 2008. He took part in a three-day audition for Making the Band after first seeing the opportunity online and in newspaper adverts.
During the audition process, the accuser claimed in the new lawsuit to have met with Combs and his bodyguard in private rooms. The lawsuit alleged: “On the first day of the audition, during a one-on-one interview, Combs asked Plaintiff hypothetical questions about handling situations involving sexual pressure.
“As Combs described these scenarios, he began to sexually assault Plaintiff by touching Plaintiff both over and under his clothing, including groping and fondling his penis and instructing Plaintiff to undress.” Combs is alleged to have “engaged in sexually explicit behavior” as he did this, including masturbating.
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The lawsuit continued: “Throughout this encounter, Combs emphasized his power to control Plaintiffs future in the music industry, stating that he had the ability to ‘make or break’ Plaintiff’s career.”
The alleged victim is then said to have gone through “a longer interview process” on the second day. He accused Combs of instructing him to undress in the lawsuit.
Diddy allegedly told the boy he “needed to demonstrate the ability to embody a ‘sex idol’ persona.” The lawsuit further alleged: “This encounter eventually escalated into Combs forcing the Plaintiff to perform oral sex on him, and Combs sodomizing the Plaintiff.”
Combs allegedly continued to “reiterate his power to control” the boy’s future as a singer. Combs is then said to have introduced the boy to his bodyguard, identified only as T in the lawsuit, on the third day.
The lawsuit alleged: “Combs framed this as a test of Plaintiff’s willingness to do anything necessary to succeed in the music industry. ‘T’ requested oral sex from Plaintiff, and while Plaintiff complied due to force, Combs sexually assaulted Plaintiff again, simultaneously groping and fondling both Plaintiff and the bodyguard.”
Diddy’s accuser is said to have shown his “discomfort and hesitation” during the alleged assault. The lawsuit claimed this prompted Combs to “express dissatisfaction.”
The documents alleged: “Combs stated that Plaintiff’s demeanor suggested an intention to report the incidents, and as a result, Combs said he would be ‘keeping an eye’ on Plaintiff. Ultimately, this led to Plaintiff’s elimination from the competition, as Combs claimed that Plaintiff was untrustworthy due to his reservations about performing oral sex on his bodyguard.”
The lawsuit then alleged the boy was “excluded from further opportunities in the competition”. The documents claimed he was also unable to return to the music industry for seven years.”
This latest lawsuit is one of several filed by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee. Buzbee claimed to have 120 individuals who have either sued, or are planning to sue, Combs during a press conference.
Responding to the announcement of the lawsuits, Combs’ attorney Erica Wolff said: “We cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus. That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors.”
She concluded: “He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”
In a second statement about the lawsuits, Diddy’s attorneys told The Mirror US: “The press conference and 1-800 number that preceded todays barrage of filings were clear attempts to garner publicity. Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone adult or minor, man or woman.”
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