Photo Credit:Getty Images
Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing a lawsuit from a model who claims he drugged and sexually assaulted her nearly 20 years ago.Crystal McKinney alleges the incident occurred in February or March of 2003 when she was pursuing an opportunity to model for Combs' fashion line.
In a complaint filed in Miami federal court, McKinney, now 48, states she met Combs in Miami and he invited her to a private house."Combs offered McKinney a drink, which she accepted. Shortly thereafter, McKinney began feeling disoriented," the lawsuit alleges.
It claims Combs then led McKinney to a bedroom where he "undressed himself and McKinney." The complaint alleges Combs then engaged in"unprotected sexual activity" with McKinney despite her disoriented state, inability to consent, and vocal protests.
After the alleged assault, McKinney says Combs told her "I was going to make it big one day" and paid her a sum of money. At the time, Combs'Bad Boy Entertainment company managed famous rappers like The Notorious B.I.G.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, accuses Combs of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. McKinney'sattorney stated: "This is a case about violence and betrayal where one man used his power and influence to prey upon one of the many women heemploys and controls."
In a statement, a representative for Combs called the allegations "an age-old pattern of unlawfully resorting to ill-gotten gains." They claimed McKinney is "so steeped in her own delusions that any trivial assistance offered over 19 years ago is conflated to mean assistance was solicited."
If true, the allegations would add to Combs' history of legal troubles over assault and harassment claims. In 2015, he was arrested for an altercation at UCLA involving a kettlebell weight. Charges were ultimately dismissed after he completed community service.
While details are disputed, the lawsuit raises renewed scrutiny of the hip-hop industry's treatment of women. "The dynamics of power, wealth,and gender make it very difficult for women to come forward in these situations," said Karine Pryor, executive director of an anti-sexual violence organization.
Some question the nearly two-decade delay in McKinney's allegations being made public. Her lawyer states she "tried to move on with her life" but ultimately decided to pursue accountability.
The case also highlights ongoing concerns about safety and consent in professional settings. As one legal expert noted: "Employers have aresponsibility to maintain workplaces free from abuse, regardless of the power dynamics involved."
Combs has not directly addressed the specifics of McKinney's claims. Acourt date on the civil lawsuit's standing has not yet been set.
