Dawn Richard has sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing him of sexual abuse and inhumane treatment, Page Six, TMZ, and Pitchfork report. Richard, who was signed to Combs’ Bad Boys label and appeared on his MTV show Making the Band in 2004, says in the suit that “During auditions, Mr. Combs spoke to the female contestants” on Making the Band “in a hostile, condescending manner, making disparaging gender-based remarks such as calling them ‘fat,’ ‘ugly,’ ‘bitches,’ and ‘hoes.’ Ms. Richard felt threatened and intimidated by Mr. Combs’ blatant disdain for the young women, like herself, who were excited for the opportunity to be on his show.”
Richard also says that Combs “deprived Ms. Richard and her Danity Kane bandmates of basic needs such as adequate food and sleep” while creating Making the Band. After Danity Kane disbanded for the first time in 2009, Richard says that she “experienced significant financial hardship,” but continued to work with Diddy “without pay or allocated budget” in his Daddy’s House Recording Studio, where she says he “promised that Ms. Richard’s compositions would result in payment of license fees and royalties pursuant to her contract with Bad Boy Records; however, no such compensation was ever reported or paid to Ms. Richard.”
Later, working on an album with Diddy and Kalenna Harper as Diddy – Dirty Money, Richard says Diddy “often exhibited uncontrollable anger during recording sessions, throwing objects like albums, laptops, and food against the wall or at individuals,” and that she saw him physically and verbally abuse Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, his girlfriend at the time. She says she “wanted to intervene and help Ms. Ventura, but Ms. Harper adamantly refused to interfere in Mr. Combs’ relationship, and physically led Ms. Richard out of the residence.” Richard says she saw Diddy abuse Cassie and other women on other occasions as well.
Richard also says Diddy “would intrude into Ms. Richard’s changing room at Daddy’s House unannounced while Ms. Richard was undressed” multiple times during 2009 and 2011, and that he non-consensually touched her near her breasts and buttocks.
“It is my honor to represent the talented and beloved artist Dawn Richard as she seeks justice against Sean Combs and other individuals and entities associated with Combs over the years she knew him,” Richard’s attorney, Lisa Bloom, said in a statement. “We will not rest until we achieve full and complete justice for Dawn in this case.” She’s seeking damages, a money judgment for mental pain, anguish, and emotional distress, and for her attorneys’ fees to be covered.
A representative for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from Page Six. He’s been sued and accused of sex crimes multiple times in the past year, most of which he has denied, but he admitted to assaulting Ventura after video leaked of a 2016 hotel incident, saying, “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you gotta do that. I was fucked up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in this video. They’re disgusting. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought professional help. I’ve been going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry, but I’m committed to being a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I am truly sorry.”