Sean Combs, also known as Puff Daddy or Diddy, is a hip-hop mogul facing multiple accusations of sexual assault. In late 2023, he settled a lawsuit with Cassandra Ventura, who accused him of rape and physical abuse. Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security raided homes connected to Combs in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing investigation. Throughout his 30-year career in music, fashion, and TV, Combs has had run-ins with the law, including past arrests for public violence and in 2015 for assault with a deadly weapon.
Combs started his career as a relatively unknown 22-year-old intern, co-hosting a celebrity basketball game that tragically resulted in a stampede and the deaths of nine people. His work on music remixes helped establish him as a rising talent, and in 1994, he founded Bad Boy Records. The label’s first major success was the Notorious B.I.G.’s album “Ready to Die,” which garnered critical acclaim and spawned hit singles. Combs’s work with other artists earned him his first Grammy nomination in 1994.
In 1997, Combs faced the death of the Notorious B.I.G. but continued to achieve significant success in the music industry. His album “No Way Out” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and produced chart-topping singles, winning Combs Grammy awards. Despite legal issues including a nightclub altercation and the arrest of one of his proteges, Combs continued to dominate the music charts. In 2002, he ventured into reality TV with MTV’s “Making the Band,” assembling music groups and portraying himself as a demanding boss.
Expanding his business beyond music, Combs achieved success as a men’s clothing designer, launched Ciroc vodka, and founded Revolt TV. His business empire grew, and by 2022, Forbes estimated his portfolio to be worth $1 billion. However, in 2015, Combs faced another arrest on assault charges after an altercation at U.C.L.A. In November 2023, amidst accolades for his contributions to hip-hop, Combs faced explosive allegations of rape and abuse from Cassandra Ventura, leading to a settlement in their lawsuit.
Following the settlement with Ventura, Combs faced additional accusations of sexual assault in lawsuits filed by Joi Dickerson-Neal and an unnamed woman. The allegations dated back to the 1990s and early 2000s, with both women accusing Combs of rape and misconduct. Combs denied the claims, stating he would fight for his name and family. In February 2024, music producer Lil Rod filed a $30 million lawsuit against Combs, alleging unwanted sexual contact and misconduct while working on an album together. Federal agents raided Combs’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing investigation into the allegations.
