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Sean “Diddy” Combs has initiated a defamation lawsuit claiming $50 million against Courtney Burgess, his attorney Ariel Mitchell, and Nextstar Media Inc., the parent company of NewsNation.
The lawsuit arises from Burgess’s allegations that he possesses footage depicting the rapper engaging in sexual assaults involving celebrities and underage individuals who were reportedly intoxicated. Burgess was subsequently subpoenaed by federal authorities and provided testimony before a grand jury regarding these alleged videos.
The legal action, filed in New York, asserts that Burgess, Mitchell, and Nextstar participated in a “deliberate scheme to fabricate and disseminate outrageous falsehoods.” The complaint further contends that these misleading claims were exploited for personal gain, aiming to increase their visibility on social media while damaging Combs’s reputation, career, and right to a fair judicial process.
“Combs is drawing a line against the malicious lies concocted and spread by those looking to profit at his expense,” stated his attorney, Erica Wolff, in a communication with Variety. “The defendants have knowingly fabricated and circulated outrageous falsehoods while disregarding the truth. These lies have tainted public perception and compromised the integrity of the jury pool. This lawsuit should be viewed as a serious warning that such fabrications, which infringe upon Mr. Combs’s right to a fair trial, will face serious consequences.”
In an earlier interview with NewsNation, Burgess claimed his role in the Atlanta music scene led him to receive 11 flash drives from Combs’s former partner, Kim Porter, who is also the mother of four of his children. These drives purportedly contained sex tapes involving at least eight high-profile individuals.
Burgess reportedly also acquired Porter’s memoir titled “Kim’s Lost Words: A Journey for Justice, from the Other Side,” which alleges physical abuse and instances of sexual coercion relating to Combs. Ariel Mitchell, another defendant in the case, purportedly stated that the tapes reveal a narrative of Combs’s “deviant activities” over the past three decades.
Combs faces multiple charges stemming from an indictment issued on September 16, 2024, including allegations of coercing, abusing women, and engaging in forced sex trafficking. The indictment details claims that he used various intimidation tactics, including threats, kidnapping, and physical violence to silence victims. He has been denied bail and remains in custody pending trial, which is slated to begin on May 5. However, it remains uncertain whether new evidence may postpone the proceedings.
Source
www.thewrap.com