An attorney for Diddy has addressed a sexual battery claim against the currently incarcerated mogul, lumping it in with “every meritless allegation” against their client.
As first reported by TMZ, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the claims, which stem from a producer and publicist who previously leveled several allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs. The report also links the claims to allegations they say are related to accusations involving CJ Wallace, whose father was the late Notorious B.I.G. Wallace took legal action earlier this month, arguing that the accuser who associated him with the claims was carrying out a larger “calculated smear campaign” that ensnared him.
"As Mr. Combs’ legal team has repeatedly stated for over a year now, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a media circus,” Jonathan Davis, an attorney for Diddy, was quoted as telling TMZ in the latest report. “Let me make it absolutely clear, Mr. Combs categorically denies as false and defamatory all claims that he sexually abused anyone. He looks forward to vindicating himself in court, where such matters are decided—and not in the media—based on admissible, material evidence, not rank speculation and unsubstantiated allegations.”
When reached by Complex on Tuesday (Nov. 18), a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed that an investigation was in progress.
“We received an official copy of the report from Largo Police Department on Friday, November 14th and Special Victims Bureau will be investigating the allegations,” the deputy said via email.
Complex has also reached out to the Largo Police Department and reps for Diddy. This story may be updated.
To be clear, these claims are separate from Diddy’s since-concluded sex trafficking and racketeering trial, which ended with a split verdict over the summer. The Bad Boy Records founder was later handed down a 50-month sentence following his conviction on Mann Act violations, with Complex's Shawn Setaro offering this firsthand account of what it was like in the courtroom.
Expected appeal proceedings have since been initiated, while Diddy’s previously slated prison release date has been pushed back.