March 01, (THEWILL) – Rodney Jones, a former producer and videographer for Sean Combs, aka Diddy, has filed a lawsuit against the businessman, accusing him of sexual assault, sexual harassment and ‘grooming’.
Rodney filed his civil complaint in New York Federal Court, stating that he worked for and travelled with Diddy between 2022 – 2023 while collaborating with Combs on his most recent album, ‘Love’.
Among other allegations, Jones claims that Diddy did not compensate him for his music-producing work, forced him to procure and interact with sex workers, threatened him and served alcoholic beverages laced with drugs to guests at parties at his homes.
Diddy’s Chief of Staff, Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge; former Motown CEO, Ethiopia Habtemariam; and Diddy’s adult son, Justin, are also named as defendants.
Diddy is accused of soliciting prostitutes and underage girls to attend parties at his father’s home.
Khorram allegedly ordered prostitutes and illicit drugs for Diddy and his guests and according to the lawsuit, Jones believed Khorram aided and abetted Diddy’s sexual assault.
Grainge and Habtemarian, according to the lawsuit, sponsored and attended several listening parties for the ‘Love’ album at Diddy’s Los Angeles home, and knew or should have known that Diddy was drugging the attendees through laced bottles of DeLeon Tequila and Ciroc Vodka.
As sponsors of these events, the lawsuit states Grainge and Habtemarian had a duty and obligation to ensure that sex workers and underaged girls were not present and that Diddy was not spiking the alcohol with date rape drugs.
Jones is seeking $30 million in damages.
Shawn Holley, Diddy’s attorney has denied the allegations, calling Jones a liar.
“His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,” Holley said.
“Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored, as Mr. Blackburn refuses to return our calls. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them.”
Jones claims that “throughout his time living with Mr. Combs, Mr. Jones was the victim of constant unsolicited and unauthorised groping and touching of his anus.”
When Jones raised concerns about the alleged harassment of Khorram, the lawsuit states she dismissed it as friendly horseplay.
Jones described Diddy as forceful and demanding in the lawsuit, claiming that Diddy displayed firearms, talked about getting away with shooting people, and intimidated Jones with his influence in the music industry.
As his videographer, Jones alleged that he has secured hundreds of hours of footage and audio recordings of Diddy, his staff, and his guests engaging in serious illegal activity.
Citing as an example of alleged grooming he experienced by Diddy, Jones claims that Diddy encouraged him to watch producer and reality TV personality, Steven Jordan, aka Steve J, someone whom Diddy allegedly knew Jones admired professionally, engage in sex with another man.
“This was done to ease Mr. Jones’ anxiety concerning homosexuality,” the suit alleges. “According to Mr. Combs, ‘this is a normal practice in the music industry, look, even Stevie J is doing it.’”
Stevie J is not accused of wrongdoing and is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit but he called Jones’ allegations false.
“My lawyer will be handling this going forward,” Stevie J added.
Jones also alleges in the suit that Combs is liable for a sexual assault he says he experienced by Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr., which allegedly took place on a yacht rented by Diddy in the US Virgin Islands in January 2023.
“Mr. Combs was present while Mr. Jones was being assaulted by Cuba Gooding Jr.,” the suit alleges.
“Mr. Jones was legally on the premises as a guest and invitee of Mr. Combs. Cuba Gooding Jr. were legally on the premises as a guest and invitee of Mr. Combs.”
In November 2023, Diddy settled a suit brought by his former girlfriend, singer Casandra Ventura aka Cassie, who alleged she was raped and subjected to years of repeated physical and other abuses by Combs.
“A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Ben Brafman, an attorney for Diddy said.
“Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Weeks later, at least two other civil lawsuits were filed against Diddy with allegations of sexual assault.
“I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” Diddy had said in a statement in December.
“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
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