Yet another day dawns and with it, another legal entanglement looms for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. The renowned music mogul, aged 54, finds himself facing allegations of drugging and s*xually assaulting a woman dating back to 2003, as per a recent lawsuit filed on Tuesday, 21st May, in New York.
Crystal McKinney, a former model, has come forward with claims that she, at the age of 22, was introduced to the singer by a designer over two decades ago. In court documents obtained by People magazine, McKinney alleges feeling manipulated and lacking control over the situation as she was guided through events and put on display for others in attendance, following her meeting with Combs and the unnamed designer at Cipriani Downtown.
Also Read: Sean Diddy Apologises For Behaviour in Video Assaulting Ex Cassie
According to McKinney’s account in the court papers, she was directed to sit directly across from Combs during an event, where he openly made suggestive advances towards her in front of others. She recounts feeling pressured and uncomfortable as Combs continuously complimented her appearance and suggested he could help further her career in the modelling industry due to his influence.
McKinney goes on to describe Combs as being flirtatious throughout the event, alleging that he persistently served her alcohol, refilling her glass with wine. Later, at Combs’ studio, she claims to have been offered cannabis, which she later suspected might have been laced with drugs or other substances.
Despite declining to partake in smoking or drinking further after feeling disoriented, McKinney asserts that Combs continued to pressure her, leading her to a bathroom where she alleges he forcibly kissed her and coerced her into performing oral s*x on him. McKinney claims to have felt physically ill and lost consciousness following the incident.
In a particularly poignant detail, the lawsuit mentions McKinney preserving the unwashed clothing from that night in her closet, wrapped in plastic, as a testament to the traumatic events she experienced. The damages sought by McKinney in the lawsuit remain unspecified.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of CNN releasing footage depicting Combs physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. The disturbing incident, captured by the hotel’s surveillance cameras, shows Combs kicking, punching and dragging Ventura.
In response to the circulating video, Combs took to Instagram to issue an apology to Ventura and his followers, expressing deep regret for his actions. He acknowledged his responsibility for the incident, describing himself as “disgusted” by his past behaviour and claiming to have been troubled at the time.
In addition to Ventura and McKinney, Combs faces sexual assault and harassment lawsuits from three other women and one man, further complicating his legal predicament.