Sean “Diddy” Combs found himself in serious legal issues after his arrest on Monday in New York. This occurred amid several civil lawsuits and a federal investigation concerning allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault.

In November, Combs’ former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, accused him of rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse in a lawsuit. Following her claims, multiple other lawsuits surfaced alleging that Combs had raped or assaulted several individuals over the past decades. Combs and Ventura quickly reached an undisclosed settlement just a day after the lawsuit was filed.

In March, Homeland Security Investigations executed searches at Combs’ residences in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing inquiry.

The 54-year-old denied all allegations against him but later expressed regret to Cassie Ventura after a surveillance video emerged in May, showing him physically attacking her at a hotel in 2016. In the lead-up to his arrest, more accusations surfaced, including those made by former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard.

According to unnamed sources, investigators from New York and federal agencies were reportedly intensifying their scrutiny of Combs. CNN indicated that potential witnesses were being informed about the possibility of testifying against him before a federal grand jury in New York City. Additionally, Rolling Stone reported on May 28 that the Southern District of New York had questioned potential witnesses regarding claims of sex trafficking, racketeering, and Combs’ supposed links to the Black Mafia Family cartel.

As Combs’ legal challenges worsened over the last year, he also has dealt with various controversies since establishing Bad Boy Entertainment, which catapulted him to fame in the music industry.

Here’s a recap of the allegations against Combs and significant moments from his career spanning three decades.

September 2024: Diddy Arrested in New York

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, confirmed on September 16 to YSL News, expressing disappointment over what he views as an unjust prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He was taken into custody based on a sealed indictment from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, as announced by SDNY on social media.

“He may have his imperfections, but he is not a criminal,” the statement added. “Mr. Combs has cooperated fully with this inquiry and voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.”

September 2024: Dawn Richard Accuses Diddy of Sexual Abuse

Dawn Richard, a former member of the Bad Boy Group Danity Kane and the trio Diddy Dirty Money, filed a lawsuit against Combs, listing 21 counts that include sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination, and copyright infringement on September 10.

She alleges that the producer appropriated her creative work, failed to pay her, and put her through “inhumane” treatment that involved assault, groping, and false imprisonment over nearly ten years.

Richard’s 55-page lawsuit also names former Bad Boy president Harve Pierre, Interscope Records, and Bad Boy Records among others.

September 2024: Diddy Ordered to Pay $100M in Default Judgment for Alleged Sexual Assault

On September 10, just prior to Richard’s lawsuit being filed, Cardello-Smith was awarded $100 million in a default civil judgment for a suspected 1997 sexual assault, which the convict had sought in June.

In response, Combs filed two urgent motions on September 12 to dismiss the high-value judgment alongside a restraining order related to the case.

August 2024: Diddy Addresses The Love Album Producer’s Allegations

On August 26, attorneys representing Combs, along with Love Records, Inc., and Combs Global, sought to dismiss a February lawsuit brought by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., a producer from “The Love Album.”

In the motion, examined by YSL News, Combs’ lawyers described Jones’ complaint as full of “exaggerated tales, unnecessary celebrity references, and irrelevant imagery.” They argued that the “vague claims” presented by Jones did not sufficiently substantiate allegations of Combs participating in a RICO enterprise or that Jones was a victim of trafficking and assault.

The lawsuit’s primary objective appeared to be generating publicity in order to leverage a settlement, Combs’ team claimed to the judge.

July 2024: Former Vibe Editor Danyel Smith Shares Her Experience with Diddy and Cassie

On July 12, Danyel Smith, the former editor-in-chief of Vibe Magazine, recounted a moment where Diddy allegedly threatened her for not providing him with pre-publication images from the 1997 issue he was set to grace the cover of.

After informing Diddy that sharing the covers beforehand was against standard journalistic practice, Smith recounted that the producer expressed his displeasure by showing up at Vibe In search of her, Combs’ team concealed her whereabouts. A day later, she reported receiving a threatening call from Combs, warning her she’d be “found dead in a car trunk.” After contacting her lawyer, she received an apology via fax a few hours later.

The veteran journalist recounted an incident from 1998 at a restaurant involving Kim Porter and mutual friends, during which Diddy confronted Porter, demanding she return home to care for their children.

July 2024: Woman accuses Diddy of sex trafficking at his ‘white parties’

Adria English filed a civil complaint on July 3 in New York, alleging that from 2004 to 2009, she was sex trafficked by Combs and his associates in New York and Florida.

At the time, English, a New York go-go dancer, alleged she agreed to work as “entertainment” at Combs’ Labor Day “white parties” in the Hamptons and Miami in hopes that it would help her boyfriend land a modeling job with Sean John. She claims she was compelled to consume excessive amounts of alcohol and illegal drugs, including ecstasy, and was ultimately coerced into sexual activities with attendees.

English also accused Combs of facilitating her entry into the music scene as a means to silence her and keep her within his sex trafficking operation, threatening harm or professional retaliation against those who resisted his demands.

Combs’ attorney, Jonathan Davis, responded to the allegations, asserting, “No number of lawsuits can alter the fact that Mr. Combs has never engaged in sexual assault or sex trafficking.”

June 2024: Former employees claim Diddy displayed violent behavior in Daily Beast report

A June 2 report from The Daily Beast revealed that several former employees of the Sean John fashion brand and Blue Flame (Diddy’s former advertising agency) reported witnessing or experiencing Combs’ temper in the workplace.

Five anonymous sources alleged that Combs created a toxic work environment, with employees using the term “catching a brick” to describe being the target of his anger.

One former female employee claimed that Combs once grabbed her face after a disagreement, while another stated that he yelled at them. Two others mentioned they were unaware of such incidents.

May 2024: Ex-Bad Boy employees reveal Diddy’s aggressive behavior in Rolling Stone report

A May 28 article in Rolling Stone documented accusations that Combs exhibited a pattern of violent and reckless behavior toward women and his staff at Bad Boy Entertainment.

Kirk Burrowes, a co-founder and former president of Bad Boy fired in 1997, along with another former employee, recounted witnessing Combs attack a woman in the office back in 1994 and having to intervene.

Felicia Newsome, a past manager at Bad Boy’s Daddy’s House studio, recounted having to restrain Combs as he attempted to attack a woman during a fight between two females.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, attorney Jonathan Davis emphasized that Combs cannot comment on settled or ongoing litigation, nor can he address every media allegation from any source, unreliable or not. He expressed confidence in the proper authorities conducting a thorough investigation to differentiate between fact and fiction.

May 2024: Second lawsuit in a week accuses Diddy of raping college student in the ’90s

On May 23, April Lampros filed a lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court accusing Combs of battery and sexual assault relating to events from the mid-’90s.

Lampros claims she met Combs as a college student in 1994, where he initially overwhelmed her with gifts and affection. However, her lawsuit alleges that what seemed like kind gestures evolved into an aggressive and abusive sexual relationship. She reported being raped by Combs in both 1995 and 1996, as well as being sexually assaulted by him in a vehicle in 1996.

May 2024: Former model accuses Diddy of drugging and sexually assaulting her

In a lawsuit filed on May 21 in federal court in New York, Crystal McKinney accused Combs, then 34, of sexually assaulting her when she was 22. She alleged that he forced her to perform oral sex on him at his recording studio in 2003.

McKinney also claimed Combs sabotaged her career by having her “blackballed” in the modeling world after initially offering her his support.

As a “woman of faith,” McKinney said she felt a “moral obligation” to share her experience after seeing coverage of similar allegations against Diddy.

May 2024: Diddy captured on tape assaulting Cassie

On May 17, CNN aired surveillance footage from 2016 that depicted Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, including kicking, hitting, and dragging her in a hotel hallway.

This incident was noted in Ventura’s November lawsuit alleging sex trafficking, rape, and physical abuse against Combs.

However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on May 17 that no charges would be brought against Combs for assault due to the incident occurring in 2016, which is beyond the prosecutable timeframe for an assault charge.

March 2024:

Homeland Security Investigations Conducts Raids on Diddy’s Properties

On March 25, agents from Homeland Security Investigations carried out searches at Sean Combs’ home in Los Angeles, as well as at his Miami residence, according to reports from Rolling Stone, NBC News, and The Associated Press.

A representative from Homeland Security Investigations confirmed on March 25 to YSL News that “HSI New York conducted law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”

According to NBC News, the Los Angeles Times, and the AP, these searches were part of a continuing sex trafficking investigation based in New York.

Following the raids, attorney Aaron Dyer defended Combs, asserting his innocence and criticizing the federal actions as “an excessive use of military force,” labeling it a “witch hunt.” Dyer stated that Combs was not taken into custody, and none of his family members were arrested during the searches.

February 2024: Diddy Faces Sexual Assault Allegations from ‘The Love Album’ Producer

In February, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr. filed a lawsuit against Combs, claiming he engaged in serious illegal actions, including sexual assault, during the production of “The Love Album: Off the Grid.”

The lawsuit, submitted in the U.S. federal court for the Southern District of New York, accuses Combs of “forcibly touching and attempting to touch Jones’ intimate areas and/or using his own intimate body parts on Jones” during their collaboration.

Jones also implicated Combs’ associates, including his son Justin Dior Combs, and alleged involvement in a “sex-trafficking operation.” Additionally, he included Cuba Gooding Jr. as a co-defendant in the case on March 25, accusing him of sexual abuse after the two were introduced on Combs’ yacht.

January 2024: Diddy Withdraws Lawsuit Against Ciroc Vodka Owner Diageo

Combs filed a lawsuit against Diageo, the London-based beverage company, in May 2022, claiming they failed to adequately promote his brands, Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila. He also accused them of racial bias and restricting distribution to “urban” neighborhoods.

In January, Combs withdrew his lawsuit as part of a settlement agreement. Diageo now solely owns Ciroc and DeLeon and has ended its business partnership with the music mogul, as reported by the AP.

December 2023: Diddy and Harve Pierre Charged with Gang Rape of 17-Year-Old Girl

An unidentified individual filed a lawsuit in December, alleging that Combs, former Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre, and another unnamed individual raped her when she was 17 in 2003.

The plaintiff’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, stated that Combs and Pierre “exploited a vulnerable high school girl as part of a sex trafficking scheme that involved giving her drugs and alcohol and transporting her via private jet to New York City, where she endured gang rape at Combs’ studio.”

“The horrific nature of these acts has understandably left our client deeply traumatized,” Wigdor added.

November 2023: Diddy Resigns as Chairman of Revolt

Diddy announced his resignation as the chairman of his cable network, Revolt, with the network affirming his departure in an Instagram statement.

“Sean Combs has stepped down from his position as chairman of Revolt,” said the statement. “Though Mr. Combs has previously had no operational or daily role within the organization, this choice is to ensure that Revolt can remain focused on its mission to produce meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black individuals across the nation and the African diaspora.”

November 2023: Jane Doe Accuses Diddy and Aaron Hall of Raping Her in the Early ’90s

In November, a Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court, claiming Combs and Guy singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her and a friend. The lawsuit, obtained by YSL News, alleged the two men took turns raping the women in an incident from 1990 or 1991.

The lawsuit describes how after meeting Combs at an MCA Records event, where he and Hall behaved inappropriately, they took the unnamed woman and her friend to Hall’s apartment. The lawsuit claims they were coerced into drinking more alcohol, after which Combs allegedly assaulted one of the women while Hall later entered and assaulted her as well.

November 2023: Joi Dickerson-Neal Alleges Diddy Drugged and Sexually Assaulted Her

A woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit in November against Combs, claiming he drugged, sexually assaulted, and abused her, and was involved in “revenge porn.”

According to the lawsuit, Combs filmed the assault in January 1991 and distributed the video among individuals in the music industry, which caused significant damage to Dickerson-Neal’s reputation, career opportunities, and emotional health, according to her attorney, Jonathan Goldhirsch.

November 2023: Cassie Ventura alleges Diddy raped and trafficked her before settling

Cassie Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend and a singer, filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape, sex trafficking, and abuse. Just one day later, they reached an undisclosed settlement.

In her lawsuit, Cassie claimed she was drawn into a “lavish, fast-paced, and drug-laden lifestyle” alongside Combs, as well as a romantic involvement when she was just 19. She asserted that Combs provided her with drugs and alcohol, subjected her to physical abuse, and exerted control over various aspects of her life, including healthcare and career choices. Furthermore, she alleged that Combs raped her in 2018 and coerced her into “multiple unwanted sexual situations” with male escorts, which he would record.

Both Cassie’s and Dickerson-Neal’s lawsuits were filed ahead of the deadline set by New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which provided a one-year period for sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits that otherwise would be time-barred.

September 2023: Diddy awarded the key to New York City

In September 2023, Combs received the key to New York City from Mayor Eric Adams in Times Square. This honor coincided with the release of his new studio album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” as well as his performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards where he received a Global Icon Award.

“I’m a New York kid, and I just got the key to the city, so everything feels surreal right now,” he shared with YSL News at the time.

September 2023: Diddy reinstates publishing rights to Bad Boy artists

The rap artist and music executive decided to return the publishing rights to all artists and writers affiliated with Bad Boy Records, as revealed by a source who was not authorized to speak publicly in an email to YSL News in September 2023.

Artists from Bad Boy, including Faith Evans, Mase, The Lox, 112, and the estate of The Notorious B.I.G., signed agreements to reclaim their publishing rights.

October 2022: Diddy and Dana Tran welcome daughter Love

In October 2022, Dana Tran gave birth to a daughter with Diddy, marking his seventh child. Diddy confirmed her birth on X in December 2022, expressing, “I feel so blessed to welcome my baby girl Love Sean Combs into the world. Mama Combs, Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, D’Lila, Jessie, and I love you immensely! God is the Greatest!”

June 2022: Yung Miami and Diddy confirm their relationship

Diddy and Yung Miami from City Girls were initially rumored to be dating in 2021, and they later confirmed their relationship during a June 2022 episode of the “Caresha Please” podcast.

While they were ambiguous about the status of their relationship, Yung Miami mentioned in an April 2023 interview with The Cut that she was single.

June 2019: Gina Huynh accuses Diddy of abuse during their five-year relationship

In June 2019, Combs’ former partner Gina Huynh claimed during an interview with YouTuber Tasha K that he had physically abused her and had once “stomped” on her stomach.

“He was abusive mentally, emotionally, and physically. He constantly compared me to Cassie, telling me I was the bad one while she was the good one,” Huynh reported, insisting that Combs’ close associates “turned a blind eye” to the abuse.

November 2018: The death of Diddy’s ex Kim Porter

Kim Porter, an actress, and model, sadly died from pneumonia in November 2018, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Her death was ruled natural according to a statement from Sarah Ardalani, the former spokeswoman for the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Porter was found unresponsive in her bed at her Toluca Lake home on November 15, 2018, and was declared dead at the scene at the age of 47.

At the time of her death, she and Diddy were no longer together, but they had three children together: Christian and twin daughters D’Lila Star and Jessie James. Additionally, they co-parented Quincy Brown, Porter’s son from her previous relationship with singer Al B. Sure.

October 2018: Diddy and Cassie end their relationship

Diddy started his relationship with Cassie in 2007 and worked as her manager in their music career. Their romance featured many ups and downs over more than ten years before the couple finally confirmed their breakup in 2018.

July 2006: Diddy becomes a father to Chance Combs while Kim Porter is expecting

Diddy and Kim Porter had an on-again, off-again relationship from 1994 to 2007. During Porter’s pregnancy with their twin daughters, who were born in December 2006, Diddy and his friend Sarah Chapman welcomed their daughter, Chance.

November 2005: Diddy launches Danity Kane

In 2005, Diddy created the pop group Danity Kane through MTV’s “Making the Band.” The group originally included Aundrea Fimbres, D. Woods, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aubrey O’Day. The band went through several breakups and reunions, with O’Day being dismissed in 2008, although she returned later.

In a December 2022 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, O’Day claimed that Diddy let her go because she refused to comply with his requests beyond music-related matters. Additionally, she stated on the “Only Stans” podcast in September 2023 that she disagreed with the conditions surrounding the return of her music rights, which included a nondisclosure agreement forbidding her from disparaging Diddy or Bad Boy Records.

June 2004: Kimora Lee Simmons accuses Diddy of making threats

A 2004 fashion feature in New York magazine included allegations from designer Kimora Lee Simmons that Diddy had threatened to assault her.

“And I was pregnant! The fool!” she remarked, mentioning that Diddy later apologized publicly. “I appreciate him for being a driven businessperson.”

December 1999: Diddy and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez arrested following nightclub shooting

In December 1999, Diddy, his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow faced arrest after a shooting incident at the now-closed Club New York in Times Square. Diddy and Lopez began dating in 1999 and parted ways in 2001.

Natania Reuben, one of the victims, filed a lawsuit against Diddy for $130 million in 2008 and reached a settlement in June 2011.

Barrow, who started firing during the altercation, was later convicted of assault for injuring two bystanders, while Reuben was hit in the face by bullet fragments. Barrow received a 10-year prison sentence. Diddy and his employee, Anthony Jones, were found not guilty on weapons-related charges.

Reuben continues to maintain that Diddy shot her in the face. In a February 2024 TikTok video, she stated, “I am the woman who was shot in the face during the December 27, 1999, Club New York incident. I have conveyed this countless times since. … I saw him fire the gun.”

December 1993: Diddy and Misa Hylton welcomed their son Justin

Diddy was romantically involved with fashion designer Misa Hylton in the early ’90s. She styled various artists from Bad Boy Records.

They welcomed their son Justin in December 1993, but it remains unclear when they officially ended their relationship.

1992: The inception of Bad Boy Entertainment

Diddy began his career as an intern at Uptown Records, later becoming an A&R executive. In 1992, he launched Bad Boy Records. The label has sold over 500 million records, produced 38 platinum singles, and won numerous Grammy Awards according to Combs Global’s official website.

The debut album “Ready to Die” by Diddy’s close friend and artist The Notorious B.I.G. sold 2 million copies by 1995, ultimately achieving six-times platinum certification. Other artists on the label, such as Evans and Mase, also found commercial success with their first albums, “Faith” and “Harlem World,” selling 1 million and 4 million copies, respectively.

Contributions from: Josh Meyer, KiMi Robinson, Anika Reed, Jay Stahl, Pamela Avila, Maria Puente, Edward Segarra, Morgan Hines, Taijuan Moorman, YSL News; Reuters

If you or someone you know has suffered from sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 for survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and in Spanish at RAINN.org/es.