Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing fresh allegations of abuse, sexual misconduct, and exploitation from a former bandmate, Dawn Richard, who claims the music mogul subjected her to years of mistreatment. The lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, outlines a disturbing pattern of behavior during Richard’s time with Danity Kane and Dirty Money, two groups under Diddy’s Bad Boy Records.
Richard, who rose to prominence on Diddy’s 2004 MTV show Making The Band, alleges that she became a victim of Diddy’s manipulation, with promises of advancing her career in exchange for compliance with his increasingly abusive demands. According to the suit, Diddy belittled and terrorized female contestants, calling them “fat,” “ugly,” and using derogatory terms like “bitches” and “hoes.” Richard says Diddy singled her out for his disdain due to her youth and eagerness to work with such a high-profile figure.
The lawsuit details a series of incidents dating back to 2005 when Richard claims she first realized Diddy’s violent tendencies. She witnessed Kim Porter, another one of Diddy’s ex-girlfriends, leaving a music studio with visible injuries, an experience that left Richard fearing for her safety. In 2006, she says she was present when Diddy first met Cassie, another future victim of his alleged abuse. By 2009, Richard says she personally saw Diddy violently assault Cassie in his Los Angeles home. The lawsuit describes how Diddy, under the influence of drugs, allegedly threw Cassie against a wall, choked her, and dragged her upstairs. On another occasion, Richard says she witnessed Diddy hurl a scalding pan of eggs at Cassie while berating her.
Richard also claims that Diddy’s abuse extended to her, forcing her to endure grueling rehearsal schedules that left her exhausted and dehydrated. She recounts an incident where Diddy demanded she come to his Miami home while he was wearing only underwear, refusing to put on clothes when she asked. In another instance, Diddy allegedly barged into her dressing room while she was naked, inappropriately touching her without consent.
One of the most harrowing moments Richard describes is being locked inside a car with heavily tinted windows for two hours while she screamed for help. She even called her father, who traveled from Baltimore to confront Diddy. According to the lawsuit, Diddy dismissed her father’s concerns with the chilling remark, “Think about your daughter’s career,” implying that any action taken against him could have severe consequences for her future.
The lawsuit also accuses Diddy of financial exploitation, claiming he withheld Richard’s earnings, stole her copyrighted works, and subjected her to “inhumane working conditions.” It alleges that Diddy deprived Richard and her Danity Kane bandmates of basic necessities, including food and sleep, often chastising them with comments like, “Y’all are not hungry enough,” and “I’m paying you bitches to work.”
The allegations come at a time when Diddy is already under intense scrutiny, following similar accusations of abuse from his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, who recently settled a lawsuit accusing him of years of physical and emotional abuse.
Diddy’s representatives have yet to respond to these new allegations. However, the lawsuit marks another chapter in the mounting legal battles the music mogul faces, further complicating his public image and legacy.
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