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The Accusations Against Sean "Diddy" Combs: "Freak Offs," Sexual Abuse, and More
The hip-hop mogul faces dozens of civil suits and indictments alleging sexual assault and physical violence, with some accusations going back to the 1990s.
The music world was rocked on Sept. 16, 2024, when Sean Combs, known as the popular rapper and music producer “Puff Daddy” and later “P. Diddy,” was arrested and accused of multiple crimes such as sex trafficking, sexual assault and physical abuse. Just six months earlier, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had raided both Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami simultaneously as part of an alleged sex trafficking and RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) case, according to NBC News.
The ”Mo Money Mo Problems” singer created a music empire that began in the '90s, when he also launched his famous Bad Boy Records Label. He mentored and promoted stars like Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, and Usher. But in 2023, he was faced with a series of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, underage sex, and assault, culminating in the indictment against him.
One day after his arrest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York unveiled the indictment against Combs. It alleged beginning in 2008, he “abused, threatened and coerced women and others, and led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, among other crimes.”
The indictment claimed Combs did this to “fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.”
Keep reading to find out more about the charges the rapper is facing in court.
What Is Sean "Diddy' Combs Accused of?
Sean Combs is accused of verbally, emotionally, physically and sexually abusing women in the U.S. District Court indictment.
“As part of his pattern of abuse, Combs manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers,” the indictment said.
Combs allegedly used his music business to fly women and sex workers to his home and force them to participate in sex acts, by making them take narcotics — and using his fame as a weapon. He also is accused of “controlling their careers, leveraging his financial support and threatening to cut off the same, and using intimidation and violence.”
The indictment used one assault as an example, which was captured on video at a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016. That surveillance video showed Combs chasing, kicking, and dragging his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, down a hotel hallway. She was also signed to his record label. She filed a sex trafficking lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, Rolling Stone reported.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Widgor, said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
Ventura mentioned Combs forced her to participate in what he called “freak-offs” in her lawsuit. The indictment also lists the “freak-offs” in its allegations of sex trafficking.
“Freak-offs occurred regularly, sometimes lasting multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers,” the indictment read. “During freak-offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part keeping the victims obedient and compliant. Sometimes unbeknownst to the victims, Combs kept videos he filmed of victims engaging in sex acts with commercial sex workers. After freak-offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use.”
Combs and some of his staff are accused of “booking hotel rooms for the freak-offs; stocking the hotel rooms in advance with the required freak-off supplies, including controlled substances, baby oil, lubricant, extra linens and lighting" and "arranging for travel for victims, commercial sex workers, and Combs to and from the freak-offs,” according to the indictment.
Lawsuits Against Sean "Diddy" Combs
In October 2024, a lawyer in Texas announced he was representing 120 people who were accusing Combs of sex abuse, including 25 minors. Tony Buzbee said his youngest victim was just 9 years old when he met with Combs at his Bad Boy Offices in New York City for an audition, Rolling Stone reported.
“All were seeking either TV or some sort of music career with promises of, you know, ‘We’re going to make you a star,’” he said to the magazine. “Instead, basically, [Combs] did things to them so they don’t want to have anything to do with the entertainment industry ever again.”
Some of the lawsuits against Combs are more recent claims of abuse and rape. One man, who filed a lawsuit in New York in October 2024, claimed he was drugged on the night Combs was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards in June 2022, Rolling Stone reported, adding his body was passed around “like a party favor for [Combs’ guests] sexual enjoyment.”
Another plaintiff claimed he was raped while he auditioned for Combs’ MTV series Making The Band.
“He alleges that on the first day, Combs began groping and fondling him during a private meeting … he says that a day later, during another private interview, Combs allegedly forced him to perform oral sex and sodomized him,” Rolling Stone reported.
Sean Combs has denied all the allegations against him. He is currently in federal custody as he awaits trial, BBC reported. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
“Mr. Combs is a fighter,” his attorney, Marc Angifilo, told NBC News. “He’s going to fight this to the end. He’s innocent.”
