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Sean “Diddy” Combs
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For years, it was mere off-hand remarks heard throughout sure corners of the music and vogue industries — particularly, the hip-hop and sportswear areas the place Sean “Diddy” Combs (née Puff Daddy, née P. Diddy) emerged within the mid-’90s and, for some time, appeared to personal. The rumors of his excesses and techniques would bubble to the floor in a tweet or radio show revelation, however what appeared implausible about such a high-profile participant has now materialized into headline-making allegations involving intercourse trafficking of minors, sexual misconduct, compelled druggings and compromising footage of celebrities held as blackmail.
Since November, there have been 5 lawsuits leveled towards the rapper-turned-mogul who’s now on the middle of a federal investigation. One bombshell lawsuit that may, at naked minimal, mangle Diddy’s profession, got here from a younger man who was welcomed into his inside circle and, in response to that producer, exited the mogul’s milieu after he was allegedly groomed, abused and exploited. He additionally claims the practically billionaire Combs stiffed him on fee, publishing shares and royalties.
In 2022, Ronnie Jones Jr., musician and producer referred to as Lil Rod, was employed by Combs to work on what would change into his 2023 album, The Love Album: Off the Grid, Diddy’s first studio file since 2006. Jones had segued into hip-hop manufacturing from early gospel work — in Chicago, he grew up enjoying music along with his native church, sitting behind the drum equipment from the age of 5; by 13 years previous, he was recording in studios in entrance of a piano or on the bass guitar, which grew to become his specialty, as he told Death of the Clout Chasers TV in an interview.
By 18, Jones had carried out on 30-plus albums. By 20, he moved towards R&B and hip-hop studio classes. Quickly sufficient, his résumé featured credit on tracks by Jack Harlow, Mary J. Blige and T-Ache. In interviews about his work, Jones’ ardour for music, manufacturing and artistry is clear.
“I like the entire inventive course of. I simply adore it,” Jones instructed the outlet when requested in regards to the joys of a inventive. “The very best factor that ever might have occurred to me was having a fall and getting again up. Look, every time I lose, I strive to determine I wish to lose How can I strengthen and in addition, what was the message?”
Jones is finally credited with producing 9 tracks on the album, the fruit of the 14 months ending in November 2023 spent working with Combs within the studio; the album contains a huge listing of A-list visitor stars one would anticipate from a high trade participant’s huge return. Over the year-plus he spent serving to make it, the artist and producer developed an unconventional relationship — Jones was dwelling and touring with the rapper, but additionally grew to become his videographer within the day-to-day, wading into the jet-set inside circle of one of many music enterprise’s largest names.
What occurred over these months and the way it led to a high-profile FBI raid on Diddy’s properties is on the middle of the lawsuit’s accusations. Jones’ case was filed on Feb. 26 in New York federal courtroom and he seeks $30 million in restitution. Within the prolonged submitting, Jones ranges damaging allegations towards Diddy, saying that whereas working with him he was sexually assaulted, allegedly compelled by Combs to interact in intercourse acts, made to solicit intercourse staff, drugged, humiliated and says he was repeatedly groped on his anus and genitals whereas in Diddy’s orbit.
Jones additionally claims he’s being cheated out of over $50,000 for his work on Combs’ album. And, amongst his many allegations and accounts of troubling conditions, the submitting additionally states that his “life has been detrimentally impacted ever since” he traveled with Combs backwards and forwards to the mogul’s houses in Los Angeles, New York, Florida and to his yacht within the U.S. Virgin Islands whereas beneath an “implied work settlement.” The mogul has additionally threatened the producer for greater than a 12 months, he says.
It was scarcely seen then, however three weeks earlier than submitting the large lawsuit, Jones had begun a GoFundMe in search of monetary assist to tackle Diddy, whom he indicated in no unsure phrases was ripping him off.
“I discover myself combating for my producer’s charges (cash), publishing shares, and royalties for works achieved on this undertaking,” Jones wrote in his plea for funding. “For the higher a part of the previous 6 months, my group and I’ve prolonged each alternative we knew attainable to have these issues addressed and resolved (pretty) however in personal. Nonetheless, Diddy’s negotiation techniques, to stall communications, dry out (my) funds, and have me negotiating out of desperation or with no actual technique of combating again has compelled me right here!”
Of the funding drive’s $50,000 objective, $4,965 had been raised as of April 11. The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Jones through electronic mail however messages haven’t been returned.
Every thing in Jones’ criticism quantities to bupkis, attorneys representing Combs instructed the press after the preliminary submitting: “Lil Rod is nothing greater than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly in search of an undeserved payday,” legal professional Shawn Holley mentioned on the time. “His reckless name-dropping about occasions which might be pure fiction and easily didn’t occur is nothing greater than a clear try to garner headlines.”
For Diddy, this isn’t a one-off authorized headache. The submitting and tsunami of salacious headlines round it got here simply weeks after he settled a case for an undisclosed sum along with his ex-partner, the recording artist Cassie. The 2 events settled simply in the future after she filed her explosive lawsuit accusing Combs of rape and ongoing bodily abuse. Wanting on the case’s facet by facet reveals similarities within the accusations leveled towards Combs within the form of the supposed abuse, together with the particular allegations of compelled encounters with intercourse staff.
Combs has denied the entire claims made towards him in 4 lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct, a few of which have been filed beneath the New York Adult Survivors Act‘s one-year window for grownup victims to file a fits towards alleged abusers. In December, previous to Jones’ courtroom submitting, the mogul took to Instagram to make a press release to followers refuting all claims: “I’ve sat silently and watched folks attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my popularity and my legacy,” he mentioned in December. “Sickening allegations have been made towards me by people in search of a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged.”
The Lil Rod go well with additionally namedrops different main trade gamers and celebrities — even Prince Harry makes a passing look within the submitting (the British Royal faces no accusations or expenses). And since Jones’ go well with went public, hypothesis has permeated all ends of gossip media, with now quotidian tales about Diddy’s rival rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s reactions to the mogul’s woes (the place he brought Jay-Z into the conversation), and different questions round who knew what or who could also be on what tape.
Abuse allegations additionally surfaced towards 50 Cent after it was reported that the musician was looking for sole custody of their son his ex-girlfriend Daphne Jod was named in Lil Rod’s lawsuit. Pleasure was named within the go well with alongside Combs’ ex-girlfriend Yung Miami as somebody who allegedly acquired monetary compensation for intercourse work with the Unhealthy Boy Information founder. Jackson, through a rep, has referred to as the accusations “false and baseless.”
The go well with additionally alleges the rapper-mogul had a behavior of recording his friends. In keeping with Jones’ criticism, Diddy allegedly would conceal cameras round his properties and was capturing the wealthy and well-known participating in personal trysts or maybe, unlawful habits, throughout his infamous “freak off” events. Jones now claims to have his personal recordings from his capability as videographer of Diddy and his group “participating in critical criminality.” This allegedly contains footage that “Mr. Combs supplied laced alcoholic drinks to minors and intercourse staff at his houses,” the go well with claims.
Within the case’s further 25 pages filed in late March, Jones mentioned he believes he was being groomed in an try to ultimately be handed off to Cuba Gooding, Jr. The Oscar winner’s title acquired a point out within the preliminary go well with however on March 25, Gooding grew to become a named defendant within the case when 25 pages have been added to the submitting. Combs allegedly “urged that Cuba ‘get to know’ Mr. Jones higher,” Jones claims, and describes an occasion of being groped by the actor.
Combs’ chief of workers, Kristina Khorram, Common Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and the rapper’s son, Justin Combs, have been additionally added as defendants within the March 27 replace to the case. This early Spring date was additionally when Combs’ properties have been raided amid strong media protection, propelling the story to entrance pages nationwide.
Now, Lil Rod’s allegations towards Combs are set to play out in courtroom because the trade the place they’ve each made their names watches very carefully and is not whispering. This week, Southern District of New York Decide J. Paul Oetken, who’s presently overseeing the case, issued an order requiring counsel for each events within the case to seem for a phone convention.