Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr. has addressed the public for the first time since he filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs back in February.

In a Tuesday interview with Rolling Stone, Jones, who worked as a producer on Combs’ 2023 project “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” shared details leading up to his $30 million lawsuit that includes allegations of racketeering, sexual assault, and trafficking.

Calling Combs a “monster,” Jones expressed that he has been in hiding since lodging the lawsuit. Although he has experienced worries about his safety, he did make public appearances, such as directing a band at a Juneteenth event with T-Pain at the Hollywood Bowl.

“Performing at that event caused me a lot of stress. I felt it was too soon for me to re-enter the public scene. My anxiety was through the roof,” he told Rolling Stone. “There were unfamiliar guys backstage, which scared me. I was anxious about security, and it was uncomfortable to be in that situation, fearing an attack.”

“I have three therapists,” he said. “Everyone saw the video with Cassie. This is the person I’m dealing with.”

In response to Jones’ interview, Combs’ spokesperson referred to a statement from the rapper’s legal team released on Monday, as they sought a dismissal of Jones’ lawsuit.

“Mr. Jones’ lawsuit is completely fictitious—a shameless bid to gain publicity and secure a quick settlement. There was no RICO conspiracy, and Mr. Jones was not threatened, groomed, assaulted, or trafficked,” said attorney Erica Wolff. “We are eager to demonstrate in court that all of Mr. Jones’s assertions are fabricated and should be dismissed.”

Lil Rod: ‘I’m definitely blackballed’

Jones, also known as Lil Rode Madeit, who grew up influenced by gospel music, has collaborated with artists like Mary Mary, Jack Harlow, and T-Pain. His self-released music has achieved hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify.

He recalled meeting Combs during a September 2022 recording studio project aimed at helping musicians collaborate with producers. He offered his skills for instrumental work on one of Combs’ songs, where Combs then invited him to assist with developing the bridge for the track.

Jones is credited as a producer for six tracks on “The Love Album,” claiming he produced nine in total. He alleged he lived with Combs for a year while working on the album, without being compensated. In a video from February, Jones appealed to supporters for assistance by launching a GoFundMe, accusing Combs’ team of underpaying him.

“I’ve tried to manage my business related to this album, but the reality is they are being unfair. They hit me hard in many ways,” he expressed in the video. “The contract they presented to me was appalling. The payment offered to me was minimal, and now they’re trying to take my publishing rights.”

However, Combs’ representatives refuted his claims, stating, “Mr. Jones was hired as a session musician and sound engineer for ‘The Love Album’ and received full payment for his contributions,” according to a spokesperson for Rolling Stone.

Jones revealed that making allegations against Combs has impacted his ability to earn a living.

“I’m in financial trouble. I don’t have any income right now. Each month, I struggle to figure out how to pay my bills,” he shared. He further stated, “I’m standing up for justice and what I believe is right for my life, and I’m facing consequences for it. I’ve been blackballed without a doubt. I’ve gone through many nights filled with suicidal thoughts. Music has been my lifeline throughout my life.

While Jones has a complete album ready for release, he mentioned he lacks the resources to market and distribute it.

“People are too frightened for whatever reasons to engage with this,” he told Rolling Stone. “My name is credited across the (Love Album), so I must have contributed significantly. It even received a Grammy nomination. Yet, I’m left here unable to work. This situation is unjust.”

Jones concluded with a remark about Combs: “(He) is not someone to be taken lightly. For someone who brands themselves with Love Records, changes his name to Love, and names his child Love, he lacks the essence of love. It’s all just a marketing strategy.”

Diddy’s lawyers dismiss Lil Rod’s claims as ‘complete fiction’

On Monday, Combs’ legal team filed a formal court response to Jones’ allegations, requesting the case be dismissed due to “vague claims” in Jones’ lawsuit that failed to support allegations of Combs running a RICO operation or that Jones had been a victim of sexual assault or trafficking.

In the motion to dismiss, which YSL News reviewed, Combs’ legal representatives described Jones’ complaint as filled with “numerous tall tales, inappropriate celebrity references, and irrelevant images,” along with “legally vacant claims and outright lies.”

Combs’ representatives characterized Jones’ legal action as a typical business dispute that has been exaggerated into a “sensational RICO conspiracy.” They emphasized that in his claims of sexual assault against Combs, “Jones does not provide fundamental details, including when and where any alleged assault occurred or what actually took place.”

According to Jones’ lawsuit, they claim: “(Combs) physically and sexually assaulted him between October 2022 and October 2023 at Mr. Combs’ residences in Miami, New York, the United States Virgin Islands, and Los Angeles.”

In addition to Jones’ lawsuit, Combs is facing various other civil actions and is reportedly under federal investigation for alleged sex trafficking and sexual assault. He has denied all allegations against him. However, he later expressed regret to his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, after a CNN-obtained surveillance video from May showed him physically attacking her in a hotel in 2016.

This past March, Homeland Security Investigations conducted searches at his properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing inquiry.

Even though the music mogul has not yet been charged with any of the alleged offenses, unnamed sources have informed Rolling Stone and CNN that both New York and federal investigators are intensifying their scrutiny on Combs.

If you or someone you know requires assistance for mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, or substance abuse, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 for survivors and their families in both English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org. For Spanish, visit RAINN.org/es.