Danity Kane singer hits Diddy with sexual assault lawsuit

MANHATTAN (CN) — Dawn Richard is the latest woman to bring a scathing lawsuit against world-famous recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs, filing a claim late Tuesday night that accused Combs of subjecting her to “years of inhumane working conditions.”

In a 55-page lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, Richard described a myriad of ways Combs abused her while she was part of his Danity Kane and Dirty Money musical groups. She claimed that Combs fostered a work environment that saw her frequently stripped down to her underwear while Combs touched her inappropriately.

“With no legitimate purpose, and without Ms. Richard’s consent, Mr. Combs caressed her buttocks to show the stylist where he wanted her high-waisted panties positioned, and attempted to touch her breasts, claiming to show the stylist where he wanted her bra straps to go,” Richard wrote in the suit.

Richard also claims she was on the receiving end of Combs’ notorious anger, receiving numerous verbal threats and witnessing him hurl laptops, food and studio equipment at those who enraged him.

In the lawsuit Richard corroborated many of the claims made by Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, whose own sexual assault lawsuit last fall prompted a slew of other civil cases over Combs’ behavior.

Richard said she witnessed Combs’ physical abuse of Ventura firsthand. In one instance in 2009, Richard said she was at the rapper’s home with another musician and Ventura, who was cooking eggs for Combs. Richard claimed Combs came down the stairs “looking high on drugs” and started screaming at Ventura. He pushed Ventura against the wall, started choking her and threw the hot pan of eggs at her before dragging her up the stairs, according to Richard.

“Frozen in shock and terror, Ms. Richard heard glass shattering, crashing, and banging noises as Mr. Combs dragged Ms. Ventura up the stairs,” Richard claimed. “Terrified and shaken, Ms. Richard returned to her hotel where she was unable to sleep due to worrying about Ms. Ventura and her own safety.”

The next day, Richard said she got a phone call demanding that she return to Combs’ residence. When she arrived, Combs threatened her to keep quiet about what she had seen.

“I’m giving you an opportunity, if you want to make it you’ll shut your mouth … if you say anything, there will be consequences,” Richard claims Combs told her, further warning her that “people end up missing.”

“Being threatened while locked for over 20 minutes in a small, enclosed space with Mr. Combs after observing Mr. Combs violently assault Ms. Ventura the day before, Ms. Richard was terrified and genuinely believed that Mr. Combs would follow through on his threats,” Richard added.

Still, Richard says she encouraged Ventura to leave Combs in the years that followed — and when Combs caught wind, he threatened Richard’s life with statements like “you want to die today” and “I end people.”

Earlier this year, Combs apologized for his physical abuse against Ventura after CNN aired surveillance footage from 2016 that showed him dragging and hitting her in a hotel hallway.

Richards’ lawsuit is the latest of several sexual misconduct claims against Combs since Ventura sued last November. (Ventura’s suit was settled shortly after it was filed.) Combs is also the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, according to numerous reports. His homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by federal law enforcement earlier this year.

Combs is yet to comment on Richard’s claims. He’s likened the other civil suits against him to “sickening” attempts at a quick cash grab, but Richards is merely the latest to accuse him of an abusive pattern of physical and sexual violence against the women closest to him.

“Over the decades following his rise to fame, Mr. Combs’ star-studded, larger-than-life persona overshadowed his vicious temper and pervasive acts of violence directed towards those in his inner circle — specifically, women,” Richard claims.

Richard is seeking damages for the emotional distress Combs caused her during their work tenure, as well as lost wages, royalties and other relief. She’s represented by Lisa Bloom, a California-based attorney who specializes in high-profile cases of sexual misconduct and discrimination.

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