This article mentions sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — A growing number of lawsuits have been filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, includes eight anonymous men who allege that the music mogul assaulted them between 1998 and 2022, the Washington Post reported.
Singer, actor and entrepreneur William “Ray J” Norwood Jr. says this kind of abuse in the music industry has been going on since “at least the 90s.”
“That’s me having certain friends who have told me about this, and what they do, and why they do it,” Ray J said on “CUOMO.” “It’s a power trip, and it hits hard. … I know a few celebs who have been in that crazy situation. And they haven’t been the same since.”
Among the recent complaints, two men say say they were minors at the time of the alleged assaults. Several accusers claim they were working for or had worked with Combs prior to the alleged assaults.
Combs, 54, has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges contained in an indictment unsealed the day after his Sept. 16 arrest. Charges include allegations he coerced and abused women for years, aided by associates and employees, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.
He has remained incarcerated pending a May 5 trial after two judges denied bail in rulings being appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Combs’ lawyers asked a judge to order potential witnesses and their lawyers to stop making statements that could prevent a fair trial. As before, Combs’ representatives dismissed the latest lawsuits as “clear attempts to garner publicity.” They said Combs and his legal team “have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process.”
Combs “has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman,” they added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.