Sean "Diddy" Combs: What Did He Do?

Sean “Diddy” Combs was one of the biggest names in hip-hop, a media mogul who threw lavish parties and was affiliated with some of the most notable names in pop-culture. This all changed on Sept. 16 when Combs, 54, was arrested on alleged charges of racketeering and sex trafficking in a New York hotel. 

The arrest and subsequent charges against Combs stemmed from months of extensive civil lawsuits accusing Combs of egregious crimes including sex trafficking, sexual assault, physical abuse, and rape. 

This recent chain of controversy began in late November of 2023 when early 2000s R&B star Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs for more than a decade, filed a lawsuit against him. The lawsuit accused Combs of rape and intense physical abuse throughout their long relationship. These accusations of abuse date back to as early as 2005, when Ventura was only 19 years old. Furthermore, she accused Combs of forcing her to commit drugged sexual acts with other men in encounters which he allegedly dubbed “Freak Offs.”

The lawsuit was settled only a day after its filing, though details about the settlement remain undisclosed. In a statement, Ventura commented that she had “decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms [where she had] some level of control.”

Allegations detailing Combs’ sexual abuse against other victims continued throughout the rest of 2023, with three more women coming forward and filing lawsuits against Combs. This led music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., to sue Combs for $30 million in damages on Feb. 26, 2024, citing sexual misconduct. 

Jones was employed by Combs from September 2022 to November 2023 to work on his album The Love Album: Off the Grid, which earned a Grammy nomination in the same month that Ventura filed a legal suit against Combs. While employed by Combs, he alleged that he was sexually harassed, assaulted, drugged, and threatened by Combs.

Despite the growing number of allegations and lawsuits, Combs and his legal team have denied every one of them. According to CNN, his attorney Shawn Holley said the lawsuit brought forward by Jones was “a transparent attempt to garner headlines” and that there was no evidence for the claims. However, in May 2024, CCTV footage of Combs beating Ventura in 2016 was published by CNN. Since the video supported Ventura’s claims, Combs was forced to post an apology video on his Instagram page.

The following month, two of Combs’ mansions, in Los Angeles and Miami respectively, were raided by agents from the Department of Homeland Security as part of investigations into his sex trafficking allegations.

"We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct,” said attorney Douglas Wigdor to Good Morning America. Wigdor represented Ventura and another Jane Doe in their legal cases against Combs. 

After thorough investigation by law enforcement, the climax of the investigation was reached when Combs was arrested on Sept. 16 in the lobby of the Park Hyatt New York hotel in Manhattan. In a 14-page indictment that centered on his so-called “Freak Offs”, Combs was charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

“The ‘Freak Offs’ sometimes lasted days at a time, involved multiple commercial sex workers, and often involved a variety of narcotics such as ketamine, ecstasy and GHB, which Combs distributed to the victims to keep them obedient and compliant,” said U.S. District Attorney for New York’s Southern District, Damian Williams, in a meeting with reporters on Sept. 16. 

Combs would also reportedly record these encounters to use as extortion against his victims. Williams also stated that Combs “led and participated in a racketeering conspiracy that used the business empire he controlled to carry out criminal activity, including sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and the obstruction of justice.”

Following the arrest, details about the raids on Combs’ mansions were brought to light, including the discovery of more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant and baby oil in his home that were allegedly used for sex acts. Other items that were reportedly found include several guns, drum magazines containing dozens of rounds, and IV fluids that were allegedly given to victims during to recover from physical exhaustion and drug use. 

As of October, there have been more than 120 accusers that have come out against Combs with similar accusations, some of which date back to more than 20 years ago and include crimes committed against minors. Combs pleaded not guilty to all of these charges and has been denied bail twice, both of which would have been set at US$50 million. Combs’ criminal trial is set to proceed on May 5, 2025.