Combs, 55, is set to face trial on May 5 and has thus far pleaded not guilty to the five felony counts.
The rapper is also facing a laundry list of sexual misconduct lawsuits. More than 120 accusers have alleged sexual assault, rape, and abuse against Diddy across his three decades of fame as a producer, musician, rapper, and all-round music mogul.
Here is a complete timeline of everything we know so far about the Diddy case as his trial date looms.
May 2017 : Cindy Rueda alleges sexual harassment
As early as 2017, Combs’ personal chef Cindy Rueda files a lawsuit against him.
She alleged that she was subject to sexual harassment and not compensated for overtime in a 13-month employment period.
The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in February, 2019, almost two years later.
November 16, 2023: Former girlfriend files civil lawsuit, settled within a day
A former girlfriend of Diddy, Cassandra Ventura, files a civil lawsuit against him. She says the rapper and record label owner was guilty of rape, assault, coercion, and manipulation during their decade-long relationship.
Her lawsuit includes accounts of what she says were violent abuse and Combs’ drug-fuelled sex parties, known as “freak offs”.
The lawsuit also claims that Combs destroyed US rapper Kid Cudi’s car.
Combs denies all allegations and accuses Ventura of extortion.
One day later on November 18, Ventura and Combs say the lawsuit has been settled on undisclosed terms.
November 24, 2023: Three more women come forward
Three new lawsuits emerge in the same month. This time, three women accuse Combs of sexual assault in 1991.
Even though the statute of limitations has expired, New York state laws such as the Adult Survivors Act and the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act mean that lawsuits claiming sexual assault can still be made.
One anonymous woman says she was coerced by Combs and another man into having sex.
The second woman, Joi Dickerson-Neal, said she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs. She added that the incident was filmed and shown to others.
The third woman, Liza Gardner alleges she was coerced into having sex with Combs when she was just 16.
Combs’ lawyers dismiss some elements of the Dickerson-Neal’s lawsuit and continue to deny allegations, calling the lawsuits “money grabs”.
November 29, 2023 : Combs steps down as chair of Revolt
Combs steps down as chair of Revolt, his music-focused cable channel. Plans for a reality show, produced by James Corden’s Fulwell 73, are also scrapped by Hulu.
December 6, 2023: Another lawsuit filed, more denial from Combs
Another lawsuit is filed by another anonymous woman who alleges that Combs was part of a gang rape against her and sex-trafficked her when she was 17.
According to court documents, Jane Doe says she was given drugs and alcohol prior to the attack, with no recollection of how she got home.
In a statement on Instagram, Combs denies all allegations, saying he will “fight for [his] name, [his] family, and for the truth”
“Enough is enough,” says the rapper.
February 27, 2024 : Rodney Jones Jr sues Combs
Music producer Rodney Jones Jr alleges that he was groped and “groomed” by Combs during the making of Combs’ 2023 album, The Love Album: Off the Grid.
Jones says the rapper forced him to hire prostitutes and participate in sexual acts with them.
Combs’ legal representatives say the allegation is “pure fiction” and call Jones “a liar”.
March 26, 2024 : Combs’ properties are raided
May 18, 2024: Footage of Combs assaulting Ventura is released
The video shows Combs pushing Ventura to the floor, kicking her, attempting to drag her by her shirt, and throwing an object at her.
Combs issues an official apology, stating: “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
Ventura also issues a statement acknowledging the impact of domestic violence on her life.
May 24, 2024: Two more lawsuits are filed
Two more women file lawsuits against Combs. The first, model Crystal McKinney, who claims she was drugged and forced to perform oral sex by Combs in the bathroom of a recording studio in 2003.
The second woman, April Lampros, said in a separate lawsuit two days later that she was a victim of sexual assault in four instances between 1995 and 2000.
She says the relationship turned “aggressive, coercive, and abuse”, with Combs at one point forcing her to take ecstasy and have sex with his then-girlfriend. The lawsuit also alleged that Combs filmed the incident and showed it to others.
June 8, 2024: Howard University revokes honorary degree
Howard University in Washington DC revokes Combs’ honorary degree, returning his $1 million donation, and terminating the scholarship programme in his name.
Later that month, Combs is also ordered to return the ceremonial key to New York City after Mayor Eric Adams said he was deeply disturbed by the CCTV footage released the previous month.
July 4, 2024 : Eighth lawsuit filed against Diddy
Adria English claims she was groomed into sex trafficking at events between 2004 and 2009 at Combs’ “white parties”.
Combs’ legal team sustains that Combs has never sexually assaulted or sexually trafficked anyone.
September 10, 2024: Combs fails to show at a hearing for new filing
Combs fails to attend a hearing for a lawsuit filed against him by Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith.
Cardello-Smith alleges he was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs at a party in Detroit in 1997.
A default judgement means Combs is forced to pay Cardello-Smith $100 million. At the time, Cardello-Smith was in prison for an unrelated case.
Emergency motions are filed by Combs’ legal team a few days later to dismiss the case and overturn the ruling. They say Combs has never heard of Cardello-Smith.
September 11, 2024: Musician files sexual assault lawsuit
Musician Dawn Richard files a lawsuit against Combs, alleging sexual assault, verbal assault, and being overworked.
Richard was part of the Combs-signed girl group Danity Kane and another trio called Diddy-Dirty Money, which Combs was a part of.
There is also a claim that Richard was witness to the abuse experienced by Ventura.
September 16, 2024: Combs is arrested
Combs is arrested at a hotel in Manhattan, New York, of three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering.
The federal indictment says Combs was part of a “criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
Combs’ lawyer said the rapper was “an innocent man with nothing to hide.”
September 24, 2024: Another lawsuit emerges
Thalia Graves claims Combs and his bodyguard sexually assaulted her more than two decades ago, adding the attack was filmed and the footage distributed.
October 1, 2024: 120 people allege sexual misconduct
According to Buzbee, claims against Combs will include sexual assault, rape, facilitated sex with controlled substances, dissemination of video recordings, and sexual abuse of minors.
The 120 separate lawsuits are expected to be filed in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, says Andrew Van Arsdale, one of the attorneys.
On October 10, Combs’ sex-trafficking trial gets scheduled for May 5, 2025.
Combs is expected to face more charges, say prosecutors in court proceedings.
He remains in custody at the Metropolitan detention centre, with bail continually refused since his September arrest.
October 14 2024: Six lawsuits filed, one includes teen
The lawsuits continue to mount, with six new lawsuits alleging the rape of women, sexual assault of men, and the molestation of a 16-year old boy.
The claimants in the lawsuit are all anonymous, identified as two Jane Does and four John Does.
One plaintiff says he was asked to undress by Combs when he was aged 16. Another woman says Combs raped her at a hotel following a photoshoot.
According to Manhattan federal court documents, Combs asks prosecutors around this time to disclose the names of his accusers so that his legal team can prepare for the trial in May.
October 27, 2024: Another torrent of lawsuits, including 13-year old girl
Another torrent of lawsuits are filed against Combs. This time, one lawsuit alleges the rape of a then 13-year old girl, claiming that Combs drugged and raped her at the MTV Video Music awards afterparty.
A few days later, two new sexual assault lawsuits are filed. One alleges the victim was 10 when he was assaulted at the audition of MTV’s reality show Making the Band.
November 17, 2024: Combs attempts to contact witnesses, more lawsuits filed
Combs is accused of reaching out to witnesses and attempting to influence public opinion from jail, say prosecutors in a court filing to prevent bail.
On November 19th, five more anonymous lawsuits are filed from three men and two women, alleging sexual assault at Combs’ parties.
Around the same time, a lawsuit is filed against Tony Buzbee, the attorney who has filed the majority of lawsuits against Diddy. He is accused of abusing his power as an attorney; a claim he denies.
November 27, 2024: Bail continually denied
Combs’ request for bail is continually denied. The judge in New York City says Combs is a serious risk for witness tampering.
He remains at the Metropolitan detention centre in Brooklyn, New York.
November 29, 2024: Fashion designer claims she was dangled from balcony
A fashion designer Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan says in a lawsuit that Combs threatened to kill her and dangled her over a 17th floor balcony in 2016.
She also alleges being witness to his abusive relationship with Ventura.
December 9, 2024 : Jay Z and Combs accused of rape
As part of an amended lawsuit, Jay-Z is added as a co-defendant in the lawsuit concerning the rape of the 13-year old girl in 2000.
Rapper and father of three, Jay Z denies all allegations and claims the lawsuit is part of a “blackmail attempt”. He attempts to have the case dismissed. A judge denies this attempt.
December 12, 2024: Diddy accused in three more rape cases
Combs is accused of drugging and raping three men in three more cases. The plaintiffs say they were given spiked drinks and then raped in incidents as recent as 2022.
Combs also chooses to drop further attempts of bail.
December 24, 2024: Former assistant makes claims about Diddy’s sex parties
One of Combs’ former assistants Phillip Pines alleges that he was forced to have sex with a woman between December 2019 and December 2021, as well as made to clean up after Combs’ “Wild King Nights” parties.
As part of his responsibilities, Pines claims he was asked to set up rooms for the parties, with “alcohol, red lights, ice buckets, marijuana joints, honey packs for male libido, baby oil, astro glide, towels, illegal drugs, and power banger sex machines’.
January 8, 2025: Jay-Z files a new motion to dismiss the lawsuit
Jay-Z files a new motion to dismiss the lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a 13-year old girl in 2000. His legal team insist that there are inconsistencies in the woman’s account. In a separate lawsuit, Jay-Z is filing a lawsuit against Buzbee for extortion and defamation.
Buzbee launches a counter-lawsuit against Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company, claiming the company and lawyers are unlawfully persuading former clients of Buzbee to file claims against him.
January 30, 2025: Indictment amended
The criminal indictment against Combs is amended to include the distribution of more drugs such as methamphetamine and hallucinogenic mushrooms, and to include dangling a person over an apartment balcony. The other charges remain unchanged.
February 5, 2025: Another wave of lawsuits
Another wave of lawsuits are filed against Combs, but he continues to protest his innocence.
A man at New York’s Southern District court, identified only as John Doe, says he was coerced into sexual acts by Diddy.
Formerly an adult entertainer, the man says he was hired by Combs in 2007 to perform a strip show. He said in later bookings, Combs sexually assaulted him, spiked him with Viagra, and secretly filmed the interactions as blackmail.
Another case filed by Kirk Burrowes, the co-founder of Comb’s company Bad Boy Entertainment, says Burrowes had on multiple occasions found Combs engaging in sexual acts in his office.
February 15, 2025: Civil lawsuit dropped
The woman who alleged she was 13 when she was sexually assaulted by Combs and Jay-Z drops her civil lawsuit.
According to federal court filings, the woman voluntarily dismisses the case with prejudice.
In a statement, Jay-Z says: “Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious, and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere.”
February 21, 2025: Diddy’s lawyer quits
Combs’ lawyer Anthony Ricco files a motion to withdraw as one of Diddy’s six defence attorneys.
March 11, 2025: Odell Beckham allegedly involved
It emerges as part of an amended lawsuit that NFL star Odell Beckham Jr was one of the men involved in a gang rape initiated by Combs.
The lawsuit was first filed in October by Ashley Parham, who claims she was lured to an apartment in California and raped by multiple men.
Beckham says in a statement on social media: “There is absolutely no truth to those allegations. I do not know and have never met the person that filed the suit.
“I’m confident that these ridiculous claims against me will be dismissed.”
March 14, 2025: New indictment, new defences
A new indictment accuses Combs of working long hours and forcing them to assist in his sex-trafficking scheme.
The claims include that Combs threatened to use physical force, financial harm, psychological harm, and reputational harm against his employees.
In a court hearing, Combs’ legal team say the hallway attack video with Ventura was altered in an attempt to have it dismissed as evidence.
April 4, 2025: More charges hit Combs
Combs is served a new federal indictment, charging the mogul with new counts of racketeering and sex trafficking, bringing the total number of criminal counts to five. A woman dubbed Victim-2 was allegedly transported by Combs across state lines, with the intent of being used in prostitution.
Diddy’s bid to delay his upcoming sex-trafficking trial by two months is denied on April 18.
Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Diddy, Love, Sean Combs, or however you might know him, will now go to trial next month in what might be the music industry’s most high-profile case.
