Sean "Diddy" Combs is being sued for $30 million by a former male employee who claims he was sexually assaulted by the rapper.
On Monday, Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, a former producer and videographer for the music veteran, 54, filed a lawsuit in New York federal court claiming that for over a year, Combs sexually harassed, drugged, and threatened him.
While working on Combs' recent Love album, Jones lived with Combs in various cities across the States and sometimes went abroad with Combs. Jones claims that during this time, he "witnessed, experienced, and endured many things that went far beyond his role as a producer on the Love album," according to court documents obtained by People.
Also identified as defendants in the 73-page legal document are Combs' son, Justin; his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge; and former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam.
Jones claims that because of his role as a videographer, he was expected to "constantly" record the 'Last Night' artist.
"As a result, Mr. Jones has secured HUNDREDS of hours of footage and audio recordings of Mr. Combs, his staff, and his guests engaging in serious illegal activity," the court document states.
"Throughout his time living with Mr. Combs, Mr. Jones was the victim of constant unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching of his anus by Mr. Combs," Jones’ lawsuit adds.
The ex employee also alleges that at one point, it was requested that he work in Combs’ bathroom and the music executive "walked around naked and showered in a clear glass enclosure," which made Jones feel uncomfortable.
Jones claims he shared his concerns with Khorram, and she brushed off the alleged groping.
It is also claimed in the lawsuit that Combs showed Jones footage of record producer Stevie J engaging in anal intercourse with a male.
Jones stated that Combs knew Jones "looked up to, and idolized" Stevie J and was using the footage as a way to solicit him. "This is a normal practice in the music industry, look even Stevie J is doing it," Combs is said to have told his then staff member.
The plaintiff also claims that on Thanksgiving Day in 2022, a female cousin of Combs’ girlfriend at the time, Yung Miami, sexually assaulted him "in the presence of Mr. Combs and his staff."
According to Jones, Combs brought prostitutes into his Miami home and stated on one occasion he was drugged and potentially raped.
Jones claims to have a recording of "Mr. Combs providing laced alcoholic beverages to minors and sex workers at his homes in California, New York, the U. S. Virgin Islands, and Florida."
"Litigation should never be the first option for a dispute. We filed because of the refusal to negotiate on the other side," Jones’ attorney Tyrone A. Blackburn told People.
In a statement to People, Shawn Holley, Combs' lawyer wrote: "Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday. 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. 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."
A rep for Justin Combs told TMZ, "Justin Combs categorically denies these absurd allegations. They are all lies! This is a a clear example of a desperate person taking desperate measures in hopes of a pay day. There will be legal consequences for ALL defamatory statements made about the Combs family."
