Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Faces New Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault
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Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing another sexual assault lawsuit, this time from former model Crystal McKinney, who claims the music mogul drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2003.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, adds to a growing list of allegations against Combs. This includes multiple lawsuits and recently surfaced surveillance footage of him assaulting his former partner, Cassie Ventura.
Allegations Detailed in the Lawsuit
Crystal McKinney, now 42, alleges that she was drugged and assaulted by Combs in his New York City recording studio in 2003 when she was 22.
McKinney, who gained fame after winning MTV’s inaugural “Model Mission” beauty pageant in 1998, claims she was invited to a Men’s Fashion Week event in New York. There she was introduced to Combs by a person referred to as “the Designer” in the lawsuit.
According to the suit, McKinney was told that Combs could help advance her modeling career. The Designer arranged for McKinney to have her hair and makeup done. He made her look “platinum blonde” and dressed her in a revealing outfit. The then-22-year-old wore a black leather coat with a fur hood, a translucent chiffon beige v-cut shirt, jewel-encrusted jeans, and carried a fur-lined handbag.
McKinney claims she kept these clothes unwashed and wrapped in plastic as a reminder of the traumatic night.
Incident at Cipriani Downtown
McKinney alleges that during a dinner at Cipriani Downtown, Combs made overtly sexual advances toward her and kept refilling her glass of wine. Throughout the meal, he was “flirtatious, bordering on leering,” and whispered promises of advancing her career in the fashion industry.
After dinner, Combs invited McKinney to his studio on West 44th Street in Midtown where she found him and other men drinking and smoking marijuana. McKinney joined them but, after becoming heavily intoxicated, she attempted to stop drinking and smoking. Combs allegedly pressured her to continue.
Alleged Assault in the Studio
The lawsuit details how Combs then pulled McKinney into a back room where he forcibly kissed her and, despite her protests, forced her to perform oral sex on him. McKinney claims she felt “panicked and physically sick” during the assault and later lost consciousness. She woke up in a taxi heading back to the Designer’s apartment, realizing she had been sexually abused.
Impact on McKinney’s Career and Life
Following the incident, McKinney alleges her once-promising modeling career began to decline, which she attributes to being “blackballed” by Combs. She attempted suicide in 2004 as her career dwindled and she struggled with depression and anxiety.
McKinney’s lawsuit has been filed under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act. This is allowing her to pursue civil action despite the statute of limitations.
Ongoing Controversies Surrounding Combs
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal troubles for Combs. In March, federal agents searched his homes in Florida and California as part of a federal sex trafficking investigation. He has also faced multiple sexual misconduct lawsuits since November. This included one from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, which was settled out of court within a day.
Recently, CNN published surveillance footage from 2016 showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel. Combs responded with an apology video on Instagram, expressing regret for his actions and vowing to be a better man. Despite these allegations and investigations, Combs has not been charged with any crimes and continues to deny the accusations.
Future Proceedings
Crystal McKinney has demanded a trial by jury. She is seeking justice for the alleged assault and its lasting impact on her life. Diddy’s representatives have not yet commented on the new sexual assault lawsuit. As the legal battles continue, the public and the entertainment industry await further developments in the case against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
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