Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy, has officially filed his first challenge against allegations of gang rape in a court filing submitted on Tuesday. The lawsuit accuses Combs, his longtime associate Harve Pierre, and an unidentified third man of trafficking a 17-year-old girl across state lines, providing her with drugs and alcohol, and taking turns raping her in a bathroom at his Daddy’s House Recording Studio in Manhattan in 2003.
In an 11-page response filed in the Southern District of New York, Combs vehemently denied any involvement in or knowledge of the alleged misconduct. He also raised concerns about the timing of the lawsuit and questioned the authenticity of the color photographs included as evidence, claiming their context and accuracy are disputed.
Combs further argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) under which it was brought is allegedly unconstitutional. His legal team, which now includes high-profile female lawyers Bobbi C. Sternheim and Shawn Holley, contended that allowing the action to proceed would violate Combs’ rights under the U.S. and New York State Constitutions.
Harve Pierre, named as a co-defendant in the case, also filed his own response, denying any participation in or witnessing of the alleged sexual assault.
Combs’ company, Bad Boy Entertainment, has filed a motion to dismiss, asserting that the GMVA’s expansion to include corporate defendants was not added until 2022 and should not be applied retroactively.
The Jane Doe plaintiff, who is the fourth woman to come forward with sexual assault allegations against Combs in recent months, claims that Pierre met her in a Detroit lounge and arranged for her to be flown to Combs’ recording studio. The lawsuit alleges that she was given intoxicants, subjected to unwanted advances, and ultimately raped by Combs and the unidentified man while Pierre watched. The plaintiff also alleges that Pierre later engaged in nonconsensual sexual acts with her.
Prominent #MeToo attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents both Cassie Ventura and the Jane Doe plaintiff, stated that Combs and his associates engaged in a sex trafficking scheme, exploiting a vulnerable teenager and causing lasting trauma.
Combs, who has maintained a low profile since the allegations surfaced, stepped down from his position as chairman of Revolt, his media company. Additionally, his e-commerce platform faced business departures, and liquor giant Diageo distanced itself from him before reaching a settlement last month.
The Grammy Awards ceremony saw Combs absent amid controversy surrounding his nomination for Best Progressive R&B album for his 2023 project, The Love Album: Off The Grid.
