A number of celebrities appeared in court filings made in connection with music producer Rodney Jones' $30 million lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Jones filed his lawsuit on February 26, making a number of accusations against Combs, including sexual misconduct and grooming. Jones has also accused Combs of participating in sex-trafficking activity. Attorneys for Combs have strongly denied the allegations, previously telling Newsweek, "We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies."
Jones' filing to the federal district court in New York lists in detail his allegations, with one section claiming that Combs' music industry associates, who are also named in the lawsuit, financially benefited from facilitating his alleged unlawful behavior, gaining access to his powerful connections.
Newsweek has reached out to Combs' representatives and Jones' attorney via email and online forum for comment.
Among the celebrities named in the filing are:
- Stevie J (Steven Aaron Jordan), a music producer and television personality. According to court documents Jones alleges Combs used access to Stevie J and his knowledge of Jones' admiration of Stevie J "to groom and entice Mr. Jones to engage in homosexual acts."
- A redacted name of a Philadelphia rapper who dated Nicki Minaj
- A Grammy Award-winning R&B singer who had trouble with law enforcement after assaulting a Bajan billionaire, whose name was also redacted.
- Yung Miami, who was not labeled as a celebrity in the filing, but a relative of Yung Miami is named. According to court documents, the cousin of Yung Miami is accused of "groping Mr. Jones."
- Prince Harry, according to court documents, Jones alleges Comb's associates gained access to "international dignitaries like British Royal, Prince Harry."
- Cassie Ventura, a singer and dancer who's previous lawsuit against Combs related to allegations of sexual abuse was mentioned.
- Bishop T.D. Jakes, is not accused of anything in the lawsuit. According to the court documents, Jones alleges that Combs "planned to leverage his relationship with Bishop T.D. Jakes to soften the impact on his public image of Cassie Ventura's lawsuit."
- Georgia Mass Choir, was named in the filing in relation to his professional engagements with Jones and is not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement related to the alleged misconduct.
- Donald Lawrence, songwriter and music producer. Lawrence was named in the filing in relation to his professional engagements with Jones and is not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement related to the alleged misconduct.
- The Clark Sisters, were also named in relation to professional engagements with Jones and is not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement related to the alleged misconduct.
- Smokie Norful was named in relation to professional engagements with Jones and is not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement related to the alleged misconduct.
- Faheem Muhammad was named as according to court documents, Combs' head of security, "had the power to make people and problems disappear."
- DeForrest Taylor, according to court documents, Taylor was named as Combs allegedly asked Jones and Taylor for a hundred-dollar bill "because he wanted them
to do cocaine with him." - Jose Cruz was named as the court document alleges he is "the gatekeeper to all of Mr. Combs recordings."
Among the benefits enjoyed by music industry parties, Jones' lawyers claimed, was "affiliation and access to Mr. Combs' popularity."
In the court filing seen by Newsweek, it is alleged that through this popularity, Combs' associates gained access to "celebrities such as famous athletes, political figures, artists, musicians, and international dignitaries like British Royal, Prince Harry."
The named celebrities have not been charged.
The court filing comes after federal authorities on Monday raided homes reportedly owned by Combs in Los Angeles, California, and Miami, Florida, according to local media outlets.
Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security executed search warrants at properties belonging to Combs in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of West Los Angeles, and in Miami on Monday afternoon.
The raids are reportedly tied to sex-trafficking allegations leveled by different plaintiffs in recent months, the Associated Press reported, citing law enforcement sources.
In response to the raid, Tyrone Blackburn, an attorney representing Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, gave a statement saying, "About damn time. Sometimes justice delayed is not justice denied, so long as justice ultimately arrives."
In recent months, Combs has been hit with several legal battles, with lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking.
In a separate case, Combs' ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, sued him in November, alleging years of sexual abuse. The lawsuit, which accuses Combs of forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed, was settled the day after it was filed.
Update 03/27/24, 3:02 p.m. ET: This article was updated with clarification of Jakes' appearance in the court documents.
Update 05/3/24, 2:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with clarification of the celebrities' appearance in the court documents.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Natalie Venegas is a Weekend Reporter at Newsweek based in New York. Her focus is reporting on education, social justice ... Read more
