Daily Reports
Music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing a new lawsuit filed by April Lampros, who accuses him of drugging and sexually assaulting her over two decades ago. Lampros, a former fashion student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, claims in her lawsuit that Combs promised to mentor her before becoming 'aggressive' and 'coercive.' She is the sixth woman to level such allegations against Combs, who has denied all previous accusations.
The lawsuit, filed in New York County Supreme Court, alleges that Combs sexually assaulted Lampros on four different occasions, starting in 1995. In one incident, she claims he forced her to take ecstasy and have sex with Combs' ex-girlfriend, Kim Porter. Lampros also alleges that Combs recorded them having sex without her knowledge and showed the video to others.
The first assault allegedly took place after meeting Combs at a New York bar. Lampros says she felt 'uncomfortable' following a few drinks and was later taken to a hotel room where Combs forcibly kissed and raped her despite her begging him to stop. Further assaults allegedly occurred in a parking lot near her Manhattan apartment and in Combs' residence, where Lampros was coerced into taking drugs and engaging in sexual acts under threat of professional harm.
Lampros ended her relationship with Combs in 1998, but years later claimed that Combs continued to harass her. The lawsuit describes a grim picture of intimidation, emotional distress, and retaliation, including Lampros being falsely accused of attempting to poison Porter, leading to her losing her job.
This lawsuit comes amid an ongoing series of legal troubles for Combs. Just last month, his former partner Cassie Ventura accused him of prolonged physical and emotional abuse, a claim supported by recently surfaced surveillance footage showing Combs assaulting Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. Combs has issued a public apology for the incident, calling it one of the 'darkest' moments of his life.
As part of a federal investigation, authorities have recently searched Combs' properties in Los Angeles and Miami, finding firearms among other items. Despite numerous allegations and ongoing lawsuits, Combs' attorney maintains his innocence, stating, 'Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every day to clear his name.'
- The ongoing federal investigation into Combs is led by a team specializing in human trafficking crimes, marking a significant escalation in the severity of allegations against him. Aaron Dyer, one of Combs' lawyers, described the searches of Combs' properties as overly aggressive and asserted that no solid legal findings have been made against Combs so far.
- In addition to Lampros' allegations, recent lawsuits have been filed by other women, including former model Crystal McKinney, who claims that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2003. Many of these lawsuits accuse Combs of similar patterns of intimidation, coercion, and abuse, painting a troubling picture of his behavior over the past decades.
- Sony Music Entertainment and its subsidiaries, including Arista Records and Bad Boy Records, have also been named in some of these lawsuits. Plaintiffs allege that these companies failed to protect them and enabled Combs' abusive behavior by placing him in positions of authority where he could exploit his power.
- Public reactions have been strong, with many voices in the entertainment industry calling for accountability and justice for the survivors. Meanwhile, supporters of Combs argue that these lawsuits are baseless attempts to tarnish his career and legacy.
