Here are all the major allegations against him

Top line

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in Manhattan on Monday night after a grand jury indicted him on organized crime and sex trafficking charges. Months earlier, the music mogul had faced a series of civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault – all of which he denies.

Timeline

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Contra

Combs has denied all the allegations against him. His lawyers described some of the lawsuits and the allegations contained therein to Forbes as money-making schemes, “baseless” or “disgusting.”

What you should pay attention to

An upcoming docuseries. Producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson said Tuesday that Netflix had won a “bidding war” for a docuseries about the series of recent abuse, rape and sex trafficking allegations against Combs. Jackson confirmed in a tweet Tuesday that the streamer had bought the G-Unit Film & Television series about Combs, which he first hinted at in December, adding, “As more and more victims come forward, I'm going to need more episodes.” Proceeds from the film will go to victims of sexual assault, Jackson said in November.

tangent

On Sunday, Combs posted an apology on Instagram for his “disgusting” behavior in the surveillance video that shows him grabbing, dragging and kicking Cassie in 2016. The video appeared to confirm many of the claims Ventura made in her November lawsuit, which a lawyer for Combs called “offensive and outrageous” at the time. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office called the video “extremely disturbing” and “difficult to stomach” but said no charges would be filed because the apparent assault occurred after the statute of limitations in California. In his apology video, Combs said the events occurred during “one of the darkest times” of his life and said he was “truly sorry” for his behavior. Meredith Firetog, one of Ventura's attorneys, later criticized the apology in a statement as insincere, saying it was “more about himself than the many people he has hurt.” In her lawsuit filed in November, Ventura accused Combs of paying the hotel where the surveillance video was shot $50,000 for the footage.

Surprising fact

Combs' former personal chef Cindy Rueda accused Combs in a now-settled 2017 sexual harassment lawsuit, alleging that she made her prepare and serve food to the rapper and his guests while they were engaging in sexual activity or immediately afterward.

Important background

The allegations in the lawsuits against Combs date back to the 1990s, when he founded his own record label, Bad Boy Records, which Rolling Stone called “one of the most influential hip-hop labels of all time.” The label has signed major artists such as The Notorious BIG, Janelle Monáe and Cassie and released several of Combs' own albums, including “Press Play” and “Last Train To Paris.” Combs sold a 50 percent stake in Bad Boy to Warner Music Group in 2005 in a reported $30 million deal. Combs has built a fortune through Bad Boy Records, several liquor brands, a fashion label and other ventures. Earlier this year, he sold his stake in the DeLeón tequila brand for $200 million. He was ranked 14th on Forbes' 2022 list of highest-paid entertainers, earning an estimated $90 million that year. One of the rapper's searched homes is in Holmby Hills, an affluent neighborhood where Combs bought a $40 million home ten years ago.

More information

Federal authorities search Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes in LA and Miami (Forbes)

Sean Combs accused in latest lawsuit of sexually abusing a 17-year-old (Forbes)

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs charged with rape and sexual assault in two new separate trials (Forbes)

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs accused of rape and sex trafficking by singer and ex-partner (Forbes)