Diddy accused of sexual misconduct by producer Rodney Jones

Sean “Diddy” Combs is the subject of a lawsuit filed by music producer Rodney Jones Jr., the New York Times reports. Jones, who is also known as Lil Rod, alleges that Combs subjected him to sexual assault, grooming, and improper payment while they worked on last year's The Love Album. Diddy, via his lawyer, denies all claims.

The lawsuit includes claims by Jones that Combs grabbed his genitals without consent, forced him to hire prostitutes and participate in sex acts with them, and trying to “groom” him into having sex with another man while promising to further his music career. Jones says that Combs told him this was "a normal practice in the industry."

Additionally, Jones says he was drugged by Combs in July 2023 while attending a listening party at the mogul's Calfornia home. He claims he took a Tequila shot at the event and then woke up "at 4 a.m. the following morning naked with a sex worker sleeping next to him."

In addition to Diddy, Jones also included Universal Music Group and multiple specific executives in the lawsuit. He is seeking $30 million in damages. An initial error in the court’s system made it appear that Jones was seeking $30 billion but that was corrected by his legal team.

In a statement from Diddy’s attorney Shawn Holley Jones was described as "nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 billion lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday. His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies. Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored, as Mr. Blackburn refuses to return our calls. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them."

This is the fifth time Combs has been sued for sexual misconduct over the past few months. In November 2023 Cassie became the first woman to allege sexual abuse at the hands of Combs, with whom she was in a relationship for a decade. The former couple reached a private settlement one day after Cassie went public with her allegations.

Three more people subsequently came forward, including one woman who says she was sex trafficked and gang raped in 2003. Combs, who stepped down as chairman of the TV network Revolt after the allegations were made, denies all of the allegations.