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Sean “Diddy” Combs has filed a Sh 7 billion defamation lawsuit against music manager Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar Media Inc., which operates NewsNation.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses the trio of fabricating damaging allegations against Combs and broadcasting them without verification.
According to Page Six, the claims revolve around explosive allegations that Burgess possessed explicit tapes involving the rapper and other celebrities, including minors.
In court documents, Burgess allegedly said he had nearly a dozen flash drives containing explicit footage featuring male and female celebrities, as well as minors.
Burgess first made the claims during a NewsNation interview after testifying before a grand jury in late 2024.
Ariel Mitchell, Burgess' attorney, reportedly supported these claims, going as far as to say that a high-profile celebrity appeared in one of the videos.
“I can verify that it exists — it’s real, and the other person in the video is very visible,” Mitchell insisted during the broadcast.
However, Combs’ lawsuit fiercely disputes these allegations, labelling them baseless lies.
“Burgess falsely claimed that he possessed videos of Mr. Combs involved in the sexual assault of celebrities and minors,” the suit states. It further accuses Mitchell and NewsNation of recklessly amplifying these claims without proof, causing significant damage to Combs' reputation.
The complaint alleges that Mitchell either knew her client’s claims were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
“Because no such tapes exist, and because Mitchell never saw any video depicting Mr. Combs sexually abusing anyone, adult or minor, her statements were blatant falsehoods or recklessly false,” the lawsuit reads.
The defamation suit accuses Burgess, Mitchell, and NewsNation of causing “profound reputational and economic injury” to the 55-year-old music mogul.
Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff, warned that the lawsuit should serve as a message against spreading “intentional falsehoods” that undermine his right to a fair trial.
The lawsuit comes as Combs faces severe criminal charges. In September 2024, he was arrested on allegations of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution.
He pleaded not guilty and remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors allege that Combs operated a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking, forced labour, and other crimes spanning decades.
Court documents claim that during “freak-offs” and drug-fueled parties, Combs subjected victims to physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. Some victims reportedly sustained injuries that took weeks to heal.
Authorities said a raid on his Los Angeles and Miami homes in early 2024 uncovered over 1,000 bottles of lubricant, narcotics, and assault rifles.
Diddy’s trial is set for May 2025, where he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted.
Meanwhile, the embattled mogul is also defending himself against multiple civil lawsuits accusing him of similar misconduct. He continues to maintain his innocence.
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