Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, has filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing him of sexual assault and abusive treatment. This lawsuit follows a $100 million default judgment against Combs in a separate sexual assault case.
Richard, who was signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Records, also claims to have witnessed Combs physically and sexually abuse his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, on multiple occasions.
According to court documents, Richard alleges that while participating in Combs’ reality show Making the Band, he verbally abused contestants, calling them “fat,” “ugly,” and other derogatory terms. She claims she was forced to work for 48 hours straight, leading to severe weight loss, dehydration, and skin rashes.
Between 2009 and 2011, while working with Combs in the group Diddy – Dirty Money, Richard alleges he sexually assaulted her by inappropriately touching her near her breasts and rear while she was undressing. The lawsuit details Combs frequently commenting on her body and smacking her bare buttocks.
Richard also claims to have witnessed Combs violently abusing Ventura, including incidents where he allegedly threw her against a wall, choked her, and attempted to strangle her. Richard recalls one instance where Combs reportedly threw a hot pan of eggs at Ventura and punched her in the face.
Ventura previously filed her own $100 million lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of sustained abuse, which was settled a day after she filed it in November 2023. Combs has faced multiple lawsuits involving allegations of rape, sexual assault, and physical violence, with federal agents raiding his properties earlier this year as part of a sex trafficking investigation.
Initially denying the allegations, Combs later issued an apology in May after CNN released footage showing him hitting and kicking Ventura in 2016, admitting that his actions were “inexcusable.”
In her lawsuit, Richard is seeking damages for mental anguish, emotional distress, and legal fees.