CNN
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Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, a musical group formed by Sean “Diddy” Combs as part of the MTV reality series “Making the Band,” has accused the producer of sexual battery, sexual harassment and false imprisonment, among other allegations. , in a complaint filed Tuesday in New York federal court.
The filing also alleges that Richard Combs “brutalized” his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, including instances where Richard says he saw Combs choke, strangle, slap, punch and hit Ventura with objects. .
“On numerous occasions, Mr. Richard attempted to intervene, offering support and encouragement to Ms. Ventura to leave Mr. Combs,” the claim states. “Each time, Mr. Combs learned of her efforts to help Ms. Ventura and became enraged, threatening Ms. Ventura’s life. Richard with statements like ‘you want to die today,’ ‘I make n***** disappear’ and ‘I kill people.’”
Erica Wolff, Combs’ attorney, denied the allegations in a statement to CNN and accused Richard of having a financial motive.
“It is unfortunate that Ms. Richard aside to try to get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing by the truth and looks forward to proving that in court,” the statement said, in part.
Combs was seen earlier this year in a 2016 video published by CNN grabbing, shoving, dragging and kicking Ventura. Combs previously denied Ventura’s assault allegations, which were part of a federal lawsuit Ventura has now set for November 2023.
Two days after the video was published, Combs apologized for his actions seen in the video.
Ventura’s attorney declined to comment on the alleged instances of violence described in Richard’s lawsuit.
In his complaint, Richard also alleges that then Interscope Records head Jimmy Iovine witnessed one instance of Combs’ abusive behavior toward Ventura and that the company was aware that Combs was “dangerous around women” and “willing to beaten in public. ”
Interscope is listed among the defendants in the suit, along with Bad Boy Entertainment and Combs Enterprises. Iovine has not been named as a defendant.
CNN has contacted representatives of Iovine and Interscope Records, which Iovine co-founded but left in 2014.
Richard appeared in two seasons of “Making the Band” and one season of the spinoff “Making His Band,” both of which aired on MTV in the mid-to-late 2000s. She would return to the franchise in 2020 as a judge on the reboot of the series.
Danity Kane released two albums in 2006 and 2008, respectively. They retired in 2009.
Most of Richard’s claims stem from his experience making the TV show and his time as part of the musical groups.
The lawsuit alleges Combs “regularly referred to the five women as ‘bitches’ and ‘braves’ and denied their physical appearances” and during Richard’s time in the bands “he asked her to stay at his residence and studios different” while “depriving” her and “basic needs such as adequate food and sleep” of her colleagues.
The complaint also details an alleged incident in 2008 when Combs held a business meeting with Richard at his Miami home “dressed only in his underwear.” When Richard asked Combs to dress him “he refused saying, ‘This is my king’s house.'”
Combs formed a musical trio called Diddy – Dirty Money with Richard and artist Kalenna Harper in 2009. That group disbanded in 2012.
While working with Combs in this capacity, the claim alleges that Richard witnessed numerous instances where Combs committed acts of physical violence against Ventura. After one of these instances, when Richard claims to have seen Combs throw a hot pan of eggs at Ventura, Combs dismisses it as a “lover’s argument” and threatens Richard, saying “if you say anything, there will be consequences there,” the lawsuit alleges.
“Mr. Thug Coms also warned that ‘people are missing in the end,'” the claim says. “Threatened and locked for over 20 minutes in a small confined space with Mr. Combs after watching Mr. Combs violently attack Ms. Ventura the day before, Ms. Richard was terrified and truly believed that Mr. Combs would continue his threats.”
Richard was present at multiple parties where she allegedly saw Combs and his guests “violating incapacitated young women,” according to the complaint.
Additionally, the claims say that between 2009 and 2011, Combs repeatedly ordered Richard to remove his underwear and make comments about her body, enter her dressing room while she was undressed and she would make her buttocks bare and her chest close to her breast.
Richard also alleges that she was left in a locked car with no heat or access to her personal belongings for more than two hours after an argument with Combs in December 2010, before an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
Richard worked with Combs again in 2020, as a judge on the reboot of “Making the Band,” and in the summer of 2023, as a composer of one of the songs on Combs’ album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” as claimed the complaint, Richard received no compensation.
Richard is seeking damages and a jury trial.
The complaint is among ten filed against Combs since last November and the ninth overall to accuse him of sexual assault, one of which is Ventura’s now settled claim.
Another lawsuit accuses his son Christian Combs of sexually assaulting him, and Sean Combs is accused of aiding and abetting. Ciiro and his son have denied the allegations against them.
His lawyers have issued motions to dismiss many of the claims against him.
The lawsuits Combs faces are civil cases, but CNN reported in May that federal investigators were prepared to use a grand jury, according to sources familiar with the probe, indicating that the Law Department and US Justice is moving towards seeking an indictment of Kerry.
Although the investigation is ongoing, there is no indication if Cíori will be indicted.
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