Sean “Diddy” Combs is being accused of drugging and sexually assaulting an aspiring male singer in 2015, as indicated in a new lawsuit filed against the hip-hop mogul.

This lawsuit, filed on Monday by attorney Tony Buzbee from Texas in New York County Supreme Court, revolves around the claims made by a man referred to as John Doe. The unidentified man is suing Combs for sexual battery and is pursuing damages—amount to be determined in court—for the physical and emotional distress he alleges he has experienced.

Doe, who was reportedly developing a professional relationship with the founder of Bad Boy Records, states that the alleged assault by Combs occurred during an after-party in Los Angeles when he was 23. Combs allegedly promised the young artist a record contract with Bad Boy and “studio time with Combs himself.”

“The behavior outlined in this lawsuit is alarmingly representative of how Sean Combs has operated for many years,” the legal document asserts. “Sean Combs felt he was above the law. He is not.”

In a statement to YSL News regarding the lawsuit, Combs’ attorneys expressed, “Mr. Combs and his legal team are confident in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. The truth will come out in court: Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”

Combs was taken into custody in September 2024 on charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and facilitating prostitution. The Grammy Award-winning artist has denied all allegations and remains detained at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

His trial is currently set to commence on May 5.

Doe claims Diddy assaulted him at an after-party following career promises

According to the lawsuit filed Monday, Doe was an emerging rapper and singer who had received “numerous invitations to perform alongside notable artists at various venues across California,” including multiple nightclub events in the LA area.

Combs allegedly attended Doe’s performance at QC’s 20/20—a nightclub and concert venue in Montebello, California—because his label had shown interest in the event. Prior to Doe’s performance, a “longtime and well-known associate of Combs” allegedly informed him that Combs was aware of his talent and would be there to watch him perform.

Furthermore, this unnamed associate supposedly told Doe that a successful performance might lead to a record deal with Bad Boy Records and studio time with the prominent hip-hop figure.

After his performance, Doe claims he went to an after-party at the venue, where he encountered various drugs, alcoholic drinks, and “well-known artists and entertainers, many of whom were using drugs.”

According to the allegations, Combs himself sent Doe a drink made with his vodka brand Ciroc. After consuming it, Doe quickly felt dizzy and eventually lost consciousness.

“While drifting in and out of awareness, Doe saw Combs and his entourage engaging in group sexual activities, often with participants who seemed to be either drugged, unconscious, or appearing to be paid escorts,” the lawsuit contends.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs allegedly threatened John Doe after the assault

In his alleged state of intoxication, Doe claimed he abruptly woke up to find that his pants had been removed and that Combs was groping him. The lawsuit notes that Doe suspects Combs had been performing oral sex on him during this encounter.

Despite attempting to resist Combs’ advances, Doe alleges that the music mogul threatened him, suggesting he could “easily contact his manager and ruin any prospects for success in the music industry.”

After Combs allegedly suggested that Doe engage in sexual activity with an unknown woman, Doe pretended to comply, telling Combs he needed to use the restroom before proceeding with the act.

Instead of going to the restroom, Doe reportedly slipped out of QC’s 20/20 and exited the venue. He chose not to report the incident due to fears of being “blackballed” in the music industry.

The lawsuit names several of Combs’ companies, including Bad Boy Records and Daddy’s House Recordings, alleging they enabled the rapper’s misconduct by not having “sufficient policies and procedures in place to prevent sexual battery.”

The alleged assault has had lasting effects on Doe, causing him “pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, and emotional distress,” which severely hindered his musical ambitions.

“This assault significantly impacted Doe’s love for music, leading him to abandon his dreams for several years,” the lawsuit claims. “The harsh reality of the industry, revealed through his experience with Combs, crushed his desire to pursue a career in that space.”

If you or someone close to you has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides complimentary, confidential support to survivors and their loved ones in both English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org as well as in Spanish at RAINN.org/es.