Psychological and physical violence | Another singer files a complaint against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs

(New York) A singer who found success in groups formed by rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs is suing the music producer, describing years of emotional and physical abuse she says she suffered while he helped launch her career.

With her complaint filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, Dawn Richard added her voice to others in the industry who say the music mogul subjected those around him to an explosive temper, violent threats and sexually charged, drug-fueled environments.

Dawn Richard, who became more widely known after appearing on the MTV reality show Making the Bandis suing for unspecified damages as well as millions of dollars in income she says she was denied. She argues that the damages, including punitive damages, are justified because she suffered financial harm, physical injuries, pain and suffering, and severe psychological and emotional distress.

Representatives for Sean “Diddy” Combs said in a statement that their client was “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit. They said Mr.^me Richard was attempting to “rewrite history” by fabricating “a series of false statements in the hope of securing a payday – conveniently timed to coincide with his album release and press tour.”

They added that if her experience had been so negative, the singer would not have continued to work directly with “Puff Daddy” for so long, including participating in the 2020 return of the show “Making the Band” and agreeing to appear on “The Love Album” last year.

“It is regrettable that Mr.^me Richard put aside their 20-year friendship to try to get money from him, but Mr. Combs knows the truth and is eager to prove it in court,” they said.

According to the complaint, Mr.^me Richard allegedly witnessed Mr. Combs’ repeated abuse of his girlfriend and threats that made her fear for her life as she worked on songs, often without food or sleep for a day or two, while becoming known in music circles as a member of the girl group Danity Kane, and later with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ group Dirty Money.

She says in the complaint that he often exploded in rages, throwing cell phones, laptops, food and studio equipment across the room or at people. At other times, according to the complaint, she saw him choking and strangling his protégé and longtime girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. The events occurred from 2004 to 2011, according to the complaint.

A complaint filed by Mr.^me Ventura in November, alleging battery and abuse, was settled a day after it was filed. That sparked increased scrutiny of Mr. Combs, with additional lawsuits filed in the following months, as well as a federal criminal investigation into sex trafficking that led to raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.

In May, CNN released a 2016 hotel security video showing Mr. Combs punching, kicking and dragging the R&B singer. The incident closely matched the description in her complaint.

Days after the video was released, “Diddy” posted an apology video on social media, saying he was “truly sorry” and that his actions were “inexcusable.”

In his complaint, Mr.^me Richard says she is now “adding her voice to the growing chorus of victims who are courageously sharing their harrowing stories. Together, they seek justice and stand in solidarity, as the latest victims of the #metoo movement in the music industry.”

In court documents, she accuses Combs of asking her, “Do you want to die today?” She also alleges that he bragged about “killing people,” withheld her earnings, stole her copyrighted works and subjected her to groping, assault and unlawful confinement by locking her in a car for hours.

M^me Richard alleges in the complaint that between 2009 and 2011, while she was recording, rehearsing and performing, Combs repeatedly asked her to undress and made degrading remarks about her body, sometimes calling her “lazy, fat, ugly and skinny,” even in front of his friends, producers and bodyguards.

On numerous occasions, according to the complaint, Mr. Combs entered Ms.^me Richard while she was undressed and touched her buttocks and breasts. During an October 2010 trip to perform in Glasgow, Scotland, Mr. Combs made explicit sexual advances toward her, Ms.^me Richard.

She included among the defendants people in Diddy’s entourage and companies that supported him, alleging that he committed so many abuses in public places and in the presence of record company employees that they could be held liable.

The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Ms.^my Richard and Ventura.