Sean “Diddy” Combs—who is currently jailed in New York on multiple criminal charges including sex trafficking—was accused Tuesday of drugging and raping a woman in 2001 and recording the act, marking the latest in a long string of sexual assault accusations against the rapper dating back to the early 2000s.
The lawsuit was filed in New York on Tuesday.
The lawsuit filed by Thalia Graves alleges Combs and his bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, drugged her during a meeting in 2001 and later raped her in a Manhattan studio.
Graves says in the suit she was 25 years old at the time of the meeting and met Combs through her boyfriend, who worked at the rapper’s record label Bad Boy Records.
Combs allegedly told Graves he wanted to meet with her to talk about her boyfriend’s “supposed performance issues” in person, with the lawsuit characterizing the meeting as “a sick and twisted way” of Combs using his ownership of the record label to abuse his power.
The lawsuit claims Graves was afraid to report the incident because of Combs’ “power and notoriety,” and alleges Combs and Sherman told Graves to keep silent about it multiple times in the proceeding years and threatened her with losing custody of her child during a divorce battle.
Graves alleges she learned in 2023 the rape was recorded and later publicized, including being shown by Combs and Sherman to other men while at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York.
Combs—who pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges last week—has generally denied the allegations leveled against him (Forbes has reached out to his attorney for comment).
Combs was indicted on three counts including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution last week, when prosecutors alleged he “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.” Combs was also accused of “verbal, emotional, sexual and physical abuse” and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A judge denied his appeal for bail, meaning the rapper will remain incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until trial.
Graves’ lawsuit against Combs is one of several levied at the rapper since last year. Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura accused the rapper of raping and abusing her during their years-long relationship in an explosive $30 million lawsuit, which she settled for an undisclosed amount. Combs was hit with three other lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault not long after Ventura came forward with her allegations, with one of the lawsuits, like Graves’, alleging Combs secretly recorded the assault. Early this year, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones sued Combs for allegedly hosting “sex-trafficking parties” with underage women and illegal drugs. More accusers have come forward since Jones’ lawsuit in February, while Combs and his lawyers have denied the allegations against him.
This lawsuit comes at a time when sexual assault allegations against high-profile individuals are increasingly coming to light. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds, and out of every 1,000 sexual assaults, only 230 are reported to the police. This highlights the pervasive issue of underreporting in sexual assault cases, often due to fear of retaliation or disbelief.
The lawsuit against Combs raises important questions about the role of power and influence in sexual assault cases. High-profile individuals often have the resources to mount robust legal defenses, which can deter victims from coming forward. According to a study by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, only 5 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison, further emphasizing the challenges victims face in seeking justice.
However, the #MeToo movement has significantly shifted the conversation around sexual assault, encouraging more victims to come forward with their stories. Since the movement gained momentum in 2017, there has been a 22% increase in the reporting of sexual assaults, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey.
As the lawsuit against Combs progresses, it will be crucial to ensure that the legal process is fair and transparent, respecting the rights of both the accuser and the accused. Regardless of the outcome, this case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to address sexual violence in our society.
Sources:
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): https://www.rainn.org/statistics
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics
- National Crime Victimization Survey: https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245
- Forbes
