A Brief History of Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' Controversial Legal Battles
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, the renowned entertainment mogul with a net worth of $1 billion, has once again found himself in legal trouble.
Last week, a lawsuit accusing Combs of rape and abuse was swiftly settled out of court just one day after it was filed.
This latest incident adds to a long list of accusations and legal woes that Combs has faced throughout his four-decade career as a rapper, producer, and mogul.
According to court documents reviewed by NBC News, Combs has been involved in over four dozen legal actions or settlement payouts.
While many of these allegations were ultimately dismissed, several lawsuits have accused the 54-year-old icon of committing or being involved in acts of violence.
The terms of the settlement, which was announced on Friday, remain undisclosed.
Given Combs' celebrity status and high-profile ventures in music, fashion, food, and television, it is not surprising that he has faced such a significant amount of litigation.
Moraima Ivory, a professor at Georgia State University College of Law and director of the Center for Entertainment, Sports, and Intellectual Property Law, explains that Combs' larger-than-life persona naturally attracts attention and potential lawsuits.
Combs has rarely faced criminal charges throughout his career.
In 2015, he was arrested for allegedly attacking his son's football coach at UCLA but was not prosecuted.
His representatives and lawyers did not comment on the recent wave of lawsuits and the frequency of legal battles over the years.
Public figures like Combs often prefer to settle disputes out of court to avoid negative publicity.
Ivory notes that this approach is advantageous for celebrities who want to protect their public image, even if their company is called Bad Boy.
Let's take a look at some of the notable legal controversies involving Combs:
1991: A charity basketball event organized by Combs led to a stampede that resulted in nine deaths and numerous injuries.
Although no criminal charges were filed, Combs and rapper Heavy D were found equally liable in a state judge's decision, leading to multiple wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits.
The last of these lawsuits was settled in 2000.
1995: A limousine driver accused Combs' bodyguards of assaulting him backstage at a concert where he was hired to protect singer Mary J. Blige.
The lawsuit ended in favor of the driver after Combs failed to appear in court.
However, an appeals court later overturned the ruling that required Combs to pay $450,000 in damages.
1999: Combs was arrested on felony charges for allegedly attacking rival record executive Steve Stoute during a dispute over a music video scene.
He later apologized, and Stoute asked the Manhattan district attorney to drop the charges.
Combs also faced another lawsuit from Roger Mills, a cable TV host who claimed that Combs and his entourage attacked him for refusing to sell a video interview about Combs' alleged involvement in the unsolved killing of rapper Biggie Smalls.
The jury ruled in favor of Combs in 2004.
1999: Combs was involved in a nightclub shooting incident in which his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez and rapper Shyne were present.
Combs was acquitted of weapons and bribery charges, and a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by three injured individuals was settled in 2011.
2001: Combs' on-and-off girlfriend, model Kim Porter, sued him for additional child support.
They eventually reached a settlement in Family Court.
Porter passed away in 2019.
2005: Combs settled a lawsuit with Random House after failing to complete a memoir he was supposed to write.
The book deal was ultimately canceled.
2007: A former consultant sued Combs for $19 million, alleging that he was not fully paid for a recording he made of rapper Biggie in 1994.
The suit was dismissed in 2009.
The consultant, James Sabatino, was also involved in a fraudulent article regarding Combs and the late rapper Tupac Shakur, which led to the retraction of a story by the Los Angeles Times in 2008.
Also in 2007, a partygoer named Gerard Rechnitzer accused Combs of punching him in the face and pushing his girlfriend at a post-Oscars hotel event.
The lawsuit was settled in 2008.
2010: Combs faced a multimillion-dollar age discrimination lawsuit brought by music executive Francesca Spero, who claimed she was fired after working for him since 1998.
Combs settled the suit in 2011.
2011: Paparazzo Gustavo Garces filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs' bodyguards assaulted him on New Year's Eve outside a Miami hotel.
The case was settled in 2017.
2017: Combs' personal chef, Cindy Rueda, filed a lawsuit accusing him of s**ual harassment and unpaid overtime.
The lawsuit was settled in 2019.
2022: Raven Wales-Walden, a former nanny employed by Combs, filed a suit claiming wrongful termination after revealing her pregnancy in 2020.
The case is ongoing.
2023: Cassie, Combs' ex-girlfriend, filed a lawsuit in New York accusing him of physical abuse during their tumultuous relationship.
Although the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, both parties expressed a desire to resolve the matter amicably.
Despite the numerous legal controversies surrounding Combs, it is important to note that settlements do not necessarily indicate guilt.
Combs' lawyer emphasized that settling does not imply wrongdoing, especially in 2023.
As Combs continues to navigate the complexities of his career and personal life, it remains to be seen how these legal troubles will impact his legacy as an entertainment mogul.
