Over the past 11 months, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has faced a steady stream of accusations.
Prosecutors recently announced a three-count indictment against Sean “Diddy” Combs on September 17, accusing the popular artist of running a “criminal enterprise” through his business that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, and repeated abuse and violence against women for decades, among other charges.
Dozens of witnesses to the abuse have cooperated with federal investigations. Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were also searched in March. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
Combs, however, has denied all charges. He is currently being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York, one of the worst prisons in the country. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 9.
In addition to facing legal troubles, Combs was also stripped of his honorary degree from Howard University and his symbolic key — which is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in public service to the City of New York.
Below is a timeline of major events and allegations against Diddy over the past year.
November 16, 2023
Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a lawsuit against the producer, alleging years of rape and emotional abuse and controlling every aspect of her personal life.
The lawsuit also accuses Combs and other defendants of sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual assault, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and hostile work environment. Combs’ attorney at the time, Ben Brafman, said in a statement that “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these outrageous and ridiculous allegations.”
The lawsuit alleges a fight in the lobby in March 2016, saying Diddy grabbed, hit her and threw a glass vase at her.
November 17, 2023
Just one day after the lawsuit was filed, Combs and Ventura agreed to settle and announced the lawsuit was “amicably” ended. “This is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Brafman said.
November 23, 2023
Two other women accused Combs of sexual assault and filed suit in New York Supreme Court.
The first woman, Joi Dickerson-Neal, who appeared with Combs in a music video, accused the artist of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1991, when she was a student at Syracuse University. She also accused Combs of filming the scenes and showing them to others.
A second woman, Liza Gardner, accused Combs and Aaron Hall — a member of the R&B group Guy — of assault and sexual assault in 1990, when she was 16. Gardner initially filed the lawsuit anonymously but later amended it, naming her and adding additional allegations.
Combs later denied all of it, however. In a December 2023 Instagram post, he wrote, “The disgusting allegations against me have been made by people who are looking to make a quick buck. Let me be clear: I did not do any of the bad things you’re accusing me of. I will fight for my reputation, my family, and the truth.”
December 6, 2023
An unnamed woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Diddy and two other defendants in the Southern District of New York, alleging sex trafficking and gang rape, among other charges, in 2003, when she was just 17 years old.
The lawsuit alleges that Combs lured the high school student into a sex trafficking scheme that included “providing her with drugs, alcohol, and flying her on a private jet to New York City, where she was gang-raped by the three defendants.”
“It is no surprise that these depraved, heinous acts have scarred our client for life,” said Douglas H. Wigdor, the victim’s attorney.
Combs posted an Instagram post denying the mounting allegations in December, claiming the accusers were attempting to “assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy.”
February 26, 2024
Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, Combs’ former videographer and music producer, accused Combs in a federal lawsuit of extortion, sexual assault, sex trafficking and “solicitation.”
Jones claims Combs forced him to pay for sex and prostitutes, threatened him, and forced him to serve drugged alcohol to party guests at his home. Jones says he has video and audio recordings of Combs and his employees “engaging in serious illegal activity.”
Combs’ attorney at the time, Shawn Holley, denied the allegations and called Jones’ account “complete fiction.” He added, “We have overwhelming, irrefutable evidence that his claims are complete lies.”
March 25, 2024
Heavily armed federal agents and several armored vehicles raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area. The searches were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations as part of a sex trafficking investigation, law enforcement said.
March 26, 2024
Aaron Dyer, Combs’ former attorney, criticized the raid on Combs’ home as a “gross abuse of military force.”
April 4, 2024
Combs is the defendant in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles against his son, Christian Combs. In the complaint, former yacht crew member Grace O’Marcaigh alleges that Christian Combs sexually assaulted her in December 2022, while she was working on a boat chartered by the Combs family.
Diddy is not accused of sexual assault but is accused of aiding and abetting his son.
Dyer said they believe the lawsuit contains “concocted lies and irrelevant facts.”
May 17, 2024
CNN released hotel surveillance video from 2016 showing Combs brutally beating Ventura — a shocking revelation after Combs repeatedly denied the allegations in the past.
Video taken at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, shows Combs running down the hallway after Ventura with a towel wrapped around his waist. He grabs Ventura by the back of the neck, throws her to the floor and kicks her. The video then shows Combs dragging Ventura across the floor and throwing an object at her.
Ventura, who reached a settlement in the previous lawsuit, declined to comment on the video.
“This harrowing video only further confirms the disturbing behavior of Mr. Combs,” Wigdor, Ventura’s attorney, told CNN. “Words cannot describe the courage and resilience Ms. Ventura has shown in deciding to bring this to light.”
May 19, 2024
Combs apologized for assaulting Ventura in a video released by CNN. In the video, the producer said his actions were “inexcusable” and he takes “full responsibility” for them.
“I am truly disgusting for doing that. I have sought professional help. I have gone to therapy, to rehab. I have had to ask God for mercy and grace. I am so sorry. But I am committed to being a better man every day. I am not asking for forgiveness. I am truly sorry.”
The apology video has now been removed from Combs’ Instagram.
On the same day, Ventura’s attorney, Meredith Firetog, argued that Combs’ apology “was more for himself than for the people he hurt.”
“When Cassie and other women came forward, he denied everything and claimed the victims were just trying to extort money. Combs’ apology after a series of denials showed pathetic desperation. No one could shake those lies.”
May 21, 2024
Crystal McKinney, a former model and MTV competition winner, filed a federal lawsuit alleging Diddy drugged and sexually assaulted her after a Men’s Fashion Week event in New York City, when she was 22.
May 23, 2024
April Lampros, who met Diddy in 1994 — when she was a student at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology — filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court accusing Diddy of sexual assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, and violating laws protecting victims of gender-based violence.
Lampros accused Combs of four sexual assaults from the 1990s to the early 2000s.
May 29, 2024
CNN reports that federal investigators are preparing to bring Combs’ accusers before a grand jury — a move that marks a significant escalation in the government’s investigation into Combs.
All of the plaintiffs who filed civil lawsuits against Combs have been interviewed by federal investigators, some of whom have submitted evidence to assist in the investigation.
June 10, 2024
Combs returned his iconic keys to New York City after receiving a letter of request from Mayor Eric Adams.
June 7, 2024
Howard University’s board of trustees voted unanimously to revoke the honorary degree awarded to Combs in 2014, saying the artist was “no longer worthy to hold the school’s highest honor.” The university said it would also return Combs’ $1 million donation and terminate a $1 million grant agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation.
July 3, 2024
Adria English, a former actress, accused Combs of sex trafficking and assault in a federal lawsuit filed in New York. The lawsuit alleges that Combs and other defendants used English as “a sexual pawn for the pleasure and financial gain of others” at house parties.
The complaint also alleges that Combs forced English to “engage in prostitution and sex work” from 2006 to 2009.
Combs’ attorney, Jonathan Davis, still denies everything: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it will not change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone.”
September 11, 2024
Singer Dawn Richard, formerly of the band Danity Kane, filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of assault, sexual harassment and false imprisonment. She also said she saw Combs “severely beat” Ventura when the pair dated in the 2000s.
Erica Wolff, Combs’ attorney, denied the allegations and accused Richard of having financial motives.
September 16, 2024
Combs was arrested in New York City after a grand jury voted to indict him on charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution.
September 17, 2024
A sweeping indictment against Combs was released, publicly disclosing three charges and saying the music mogul created a “criminal enterprise” with multiple members and associates who participated in crimes including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, property damage, bribery and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors also accused Combs of abusing and coercing women for decades in order to “gratify his sexual desires.” In addition to the abuse allegations, prosecutors accused Combs of staging lengthy, drug-fueled sex shows known as “Freak Offs.”
Combs appeared in court hours after the indictment was announced and pleaded not guilty. He also requested bail, but was denied. Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ruled that he would remain in custody during the trial.
September 18, 2024
During the detention appeal hearing, prosecutors asked the judge to keep Combs in jail, telling the court he had attempted to tamper with witnesses.
The defense proposed posting a $50 million bail to keep Combs out until trial, but it was not approved.
September 24, 2024
Thalia Graves filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York, accusing Combs and his bodyguard of drugging, sexually assaulting and filming her in 2001.
Combs’ bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, denied the allegations, saying he had never met her and was not working with Combs at the time. Combs has yet to comment.