Model sues Diddy, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her

A woman who says she feels “a moral obligation to speak out” after a series of abuse allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs has sued the hip-hop mogul, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her there more than 20 years ago.

Crystal McKinney claimed in the complaint filed Tuesday in New York federal court that she was attacked at the rapper’s New York studio in 2003.

Combs is the subject of a series of lawsuits from others who accuse him of sexual and physical abuse, gang rape and “serious illegal activity.” McKinney filed her complaint days after a video was made public of Combs beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a 2016 attack that she detailed in a lawsuit that has since been settled.

Representatives for Combs, 54, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Combs apologized on social media over the weekend, calling his behavior in the video “inexcusable” and saying he was going through a difficult time in his life when the attack occurred. He said he went to therapy and entered rehab soon after and was working to “become a better man.”

He has previously denied all allegations of abuse and wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.

McKinney, who was a 22-year-old model at the time of the alleged assault, met Combs at a Men’s Fashion Week event at Cipriani Downtown in Manhattan, and Combs said she was “going to make it one day” in as a model. and promised he would help her career, she said in the suit.

Combs invited her to his studio, where one of his associates offered her a marijuana joint and told her “you’ve never had weed like this before,” the lawsuit states.

“The complainant later realized that Combs had mixed the joint with a narcotic or other intoxicating substance,” he alleges.

Combs pressured McKinney to smoke more and drink alcohol, even though she was severely intoxicated, the suit alleges.

“Seeing that Plaintiff was very intoxicated, Combs asked Plaintiff to follow him and he physically led Plaintiff to the bathroom,” the lawsuit states. Combs then forced her to perform a sex act, she claims in the lawsuit.

McKinney’s lawyers declined to comment Tuesday.

McKinney said in her lawsuit that she was dizzy after the alleged sexual assault in the bathroom and passed out in Combs’ studio. She woke up in a taxi and realized she had been sexually assaulted, she claims in the suit, which also says she kept the clothes she wore that night in a plastic bag. plastic.

McKinney said in the lawsuit that after the alleged sexual assault, her modeling opportunities dried up and she believes Combs “blackballed” her.

McKinney “became severely depressed when she began blaming herself for the assault and sabotage of her own career,” the lawsuit says. She even feared retaliation from Combs, according to the suit.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for pain and suffering, as well as punitive damages.

The suit names Combs, along with Bad Boy Records and Bad Boy Entertainment, Sean John Clothing and Universal Music Group.

Universal Music Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is not related to NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.

McKinney’s is the seventh lawsuit filed in recent months against Combs, known for his music career and for founding Bad Boy Records, as well as television shows like “Making the Band” and movie appearances.

Ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura sued Combs in November, alleging rape and abuse during their relationship, including punching, kicking and kicking. A settlement was reached the next day.

The other trials are ongoing.

Combs is the subject of a federal criminal investigation and agents searched his properties this spring.

A source close to the investigation said in March that federal officials had questioned three women and a man in Manhattan over allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of narcotics and illegal firearms.

Federal agents searched Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Three sources familiar with the matter said guns were found at his home, but no further details were provided.

Aaron Dyer, one of Combs’ attorneys, said in a statement after the searches that Combs “was never arrested but spoke and cooperated with authorities.” He described the searches as an ambush, saying there had been a rush to judgment based on “baseless accusations made in civil suits.”

“None of these allegations has resulted in a finding of criminal or civil liability,” Dyer said. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every day to clear his name.”