• Sean “Diddy” Combs and ex-girlfriend Cassie reach settlement over lawsuit accusing him of rape and abuse
• Cassie alleges she was lured into dating Diddy, who she called a “vicious, cruel, and controlling man,” after signing with his record label
• Diddy denies the offensive and outrageous allegations and states he wishes Cassie and her family all the best
Here is what happened:
Sean “Diddy” Combs and his ex-girlfriend Cassie have come to a settlement over her lawsuit accusing him of rape and abuse, allegations which he strongly denied. The settlement was announced on Nov. 17 and came a day after Cassie had sued the rapper in a New York court for sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking and subjecting her to a hostile work environment. In a statement to NBC News, Cassie said, “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.” Her lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, commended her for her strength in going public with her lawsuit.
Diddy, also known as Love, stated in his own release, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.” In response, his lawyer Ben Brafman emphasized that settling the lawsuit does not equate to an admission of wrongdoing on Diddy’s part. The relationship between Diddy and Cassie, who dated on and off for almost a decade, ended in 2018. In her lawsuit, Cassie accused Diddy of physical and sexual abuse throughout their relationship, detailing instances of violence and claiming that he forced her to engage in sex acts with male sex workers.
Cassie’s decision to file the lawsuit came after years of suffering in silence, and she stated, “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.” On the other hand, Diddy’s attorney asserted that the allegations were baseless and outrageous, suggesting that Cassie’s lawsuit aimed to tarnish Diddy’s reputation and seek financial gain.
For free, confidential help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org.
