Diddy Seeks Dismissal of Producer's Lawsuit, Calling It 'Blatant Falsehoods'

Diddy Seeks to Have Producer’s Lawsuit Tossed, Says It’s Full of ‘Blatant Falsehoods’

Sean “Diddy” Combs has petitioned a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought against him by music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who has accused Combs of widespread sexual abuse and other serious misconduct.

Filed in February, Jones’ lawsuit is one of several leveled against Combs in recent months. However, Combs’ legal team argues that the suit is filled with “tall tales,” “lurid theatrics,” and “legally meaningless allegations,” all designed to “generate media hype” and leverage a settlement, according to the motion to dismiss submitted in a New York federal court.

The motion asserts that Jones lacks the legal standing necessary to bring the suit, noting the absence of critical details such as specific times and locations of the alleged incidents. It also claims that the lawsuit fails to present a single credible claim.

Jones’ lawsuit emerged amid an increasing number of allegations against Combs. By March, federal agents conducted raids on Combs’ properties in Florida and California, revealing that he was under investigation for federal sex trafficking, an inquiry that remains ongoing.

Further intensifying scrutiny, in May, CNN aired hotel security footage from 2016, depicting Combs physically assaulting Cassie, an R&B singer who was his protégé and girlfriend at the time. The incident closely mirrors allegations in a lawsuit Cassie filed in November, which was settled the following day but spurred widespread public attention. Shortly after the video aired, Combs posted an apology on social media, expressing that he was “truly sorry” and acknowledged his actions as “inexcusable.”

Jones’ expansive lawsuit, which also names Combs’ son and several of his associates as defendants, details a year spent within Combs’ orbit in Los Angeles and Miami while producing an album between 2022 and 2023. Jones claims to have witnessed—and in many cases recorded—hundreds of hours of illegal drug use and sexual misconduct by Combs and his entourage. However, Combs’ legal team contends that the lawsuit is “replete with farfetched tales” and contains few direct allegations against Jones, apart from claims that Combs failed to compensate him for his work.

The lawsuit, according to Combs’ motion, attempts to escalate a commercial dispute into a broad criminal conspiracy, without presenting substantial evidence. Jones also alleges that Combs tried to groom him for sexual activity, groped him, coerced him into soliciting prostitutes, and pressured him to engage in sexual acts.

However, Combs’ lawyers argue that Jones’ claims lack fundamental details, such as the specific locations and timing of the alleged assaults, and fail to demonstrate any coercion that would render Jones a victim.

The Associated Press typically does not disclose the identities of individuals alleging sexual abuse unless they have made their accusations public, as both Jones and Cassie have done.

Outside of the incident captured on security footage with Cassie, Combs has categorically denied the allegations against him.

“To be absolutely clear, I did not commit any of the horrible acts being alleged,” Combs stated in a December post.