Dawn Richard has filed a lawsuit against Diddy, claiming he sexually, physically, and verbally abused her while she was with Bad Boy Records. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, details several instances of alleged misconduct, including an incident in late 2009 or early 2010 in which Diddy reportedly assaulted his then-girlfriend Cassie in front of a group of celebrities, according to court documents.
Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money, claims she witnessed Diddy punch Cassie in the stomach during a dinner at a California restaurant. The event was attended by notable figures, including Usher, Ne-Yo, and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine. The lawsuit states that after Cassie was struck, she doubled over in pain and was escorted out by Diddy’s assistant while Diddy continued socializing with guests.
Despite witnessing the alleged assault, Iovine reportedly inked a deal with Diddy and Bad Boy Records shortly after the incident, according to Richard’s lawsuit.
This filing comes nearly a year after Cassie sued Diddy for emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Her lawsuit was settled just one day after it was filed. Subsequently, footage surfaced showing Diddy assaulting Cassie in a hotel room, for which Diddy issued a public apology on Instagram that has since been deleted.
In her lawsuit, Richard also alleges she suffered relentless abuse at Diddy’s hands during her time with Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money. She first encountered the hip-hop mogul in 2004 while competing on his MTV reality show Making The Band. Richard claims that even during the audition process, Diddy subjected female contestants to harsh treatment, including forcing them into 48-hour rehearsals with no sleep, leading to significant weight loss and dehydration.
Richard also accuses Diddy of entering her dressing room on multiple occasions while she was undressed and fondling her without consent.
Diddy’s attorney, Erica Wolff, responded to the lawsuit, calling Richard’s claims “false” and accusing her of attempting to “rewrite history.” Wolff emphasized that Richard had continued working with Diddy for years, including on the Making The Band reboot in 2020 and Diddy’s 2023 album The Love Album.
“Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit,” Wolff stated. “It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court.”
Richard is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and other remedies deemed appropriate by the court.
