Four new sexual assault lawsuits filed against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
28 Feb 2025

Renowned music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing four new lawsuits for sexual assault.

The suits—all alleging similar claims—were filed under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) in New York. The GMVA was amended in 2022 to permit previously time-barred claims to be filed between March 1, 2023, and March 1, 2025.

The allegations range from incidents as early as 1995 to as recent as 2007.

Details of the allegations against Combs emerge
Accusations

The first plaintiff, Aristalia Benitez, alleges an incident from 1995 when she was 20. She claims Combs groped her at a party and later assaulted her while she was unconscious.

Another plaintiff, Justin Gooch, alleges an incident from 1999 when he was 16. He claims Combs gave him ketamine and assaulted him in a club bathroom.

Leslie Cockrell and Kendra Haffoney have also filed similar drugging and raping suits over incidents from 1999 and 2007 respectively.

Combs detained ahead of upcoming criminal trial
Detention

These lawsuits come after another accusation by a male escort who claims Combs sexually assaulted him in 2012.

The accuser alleges that Combs threatened him into silence, saying, "If I can get Pac [Tupac] hit, what do you think can happen to you?"

The Florida-based accuser claims he first encountered Combs in 2012 in New York City. Upon arriving at the Intercontinental Hotel, he alleges that Combs forced him to engage in "oral and penetrative sex" with a woman.

Combs's representatives respond to allegations
Defense

Combs's reps have denied the allegations, saying: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed...it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor."

They called the lawsuit "a collection of media headlines" and "baseless rumors."

They added that with the GMVA deadline expiring soon, "opportunists are scrambling to file last-minute, meritless claims."

Combs is currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. His trial is scheduled for May 5.