Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of drugging and 'sexually maiming' man in new lawsuit
Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of drugging and 'sexually maiming' man in new lawsuit
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Diddy wins dismissal of civil racketeering claims in Lil Rod suit
A federal judge has dismissed civil racketeering and breach of contract claims against Sean 'Diddy' Combs in a lawsuit filed by former producer Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones.
unbranded - Entertainment
A month before he's set to go to trial, Sean "Diddy" Combs has been accused of taking part in the drugging and sexual assault of a man as part of an "organized criminal enterprise."
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Joseph Manzaro is suing the embattled music mogul for sexually exploiting him in a targeted revenge plot in 2015, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY on Wednesday.
Combs' alleged offenses against Manzaro include human trafficking, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, racketeering and intentional infliction of emotional distress, per the 64-page complaint.
"Diddy orchestrated and facilitated the abuse, coercion and intimidation of (Manzaro), using his influence, wealth and power to silence and control (Manzaro) and engaged in acts of violence, sexual coercion and psychological manipulation, knowingly causing severe harm while ensuring (Manzaro) remained unable to seek justice," the lawsuit read.
Several individuals in Combs' professional orbit have also been sued for their alleged involvement in Manzaro's assault. They include Eric Mejias, Brendan Paul, Latin music producer Emilio Estefan and Adria English.
English brought a lawsuit against Combs in July 2024, claiming the Grammy-winning rapper and his associates sex trafficked her between 2004 and 2009 in New York and Florida. Her complaint was amended and resubmitted in January.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Combs' legal team said Manzaro's lawsuit "demonstrates the depraved lengths plaintiffs will travel to garner headlines in pursuit of a payday," adding that Combs "looks forward to having his day in court where these lies — and the perverse motives of those who told them — will be revealed."
Combs is awaiting a May 5 trial on federal sex crimes after the hip-hop mogul was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Man alleges celebrity run-ins during abduction orchestrated by Diddy
In Tuesday's lawsuit, Manzaro details the alleged events that led to his sexual assault at the hands of Combs.
Around April 2015, the man claims he was abducted from his West Palm Beach, Florida, home by Mejias. Manzaro recalled arriving at his home and discovering a "greasy substance resembling Vaseline" on the entrance door handle, after which he lost consciousness.
Per Manzaro's complaint, Mejias transported Manzaro to his residence in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where he met up with Combs' other associate Paul. After observing a drug transaction between Mejias, Paul and another man named Omar Bravo, Manzaro alleges he heard Paul tell Mejias that Combs wanted Manzaro to "be brought to a 'freak-off' event."
According to Combs' 2024 grand jury indictment, "Freak Offs" were "elaborate and produced sex performances" arranged by Combs, in which victims were allegedly coerced into engaging in "extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers."
Diddy's 'Freak Offs': Lawyers ask for copies of sex performance videos
Manzaro claims he was then taken by Mejias to Estefan's mansion in Miami for a birthday party for Combs' son, Christian "King" Combs. The man was reportedly "dragged through the back entrance" of the home, where he briefly came in contact with Estefan and his wife, pop singer Gloria Estefan.
A spokesperson for the Estefans denied Manzaro's account in a statement to USA TODAY. The rep said the Miami property referenced in the lawsuit was not the couple's permanent residence but "a house they owned for family use."
"There were no parties thrown at that property between 2012 and 2019," the statement read. "We have all necessary documentation to support these facts and will provide it to the court."
Shortly after Manzaro's alleged encounter with Emilio and Gloria Estefan, the man alleges he ran into NBA player LeBron James in a hallway. A spokesperson for James told USA TODAY in a statement that Manzaro's claim is "demonstrably false" due to James' work schedule.
"A basic internet search shows what LeBron was doing all of April 2015," the statement read. "He was playing basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers and never in Miami."
Joseph Manzaro says sexual assault was 'punishment' by Diddy
Following his alleged arrival at the Estefans' Miami home, Manzaro claims in his lawsuit that he was escorted by English — who reportedly identified herself as "Diddy's personal sexual assistant" — to Combs' mansion through a "concealed tunnel" that connected the homes.
Amid his drugged state, Manzaro alleges he regained "partial consciousness" inside a "large party area" in Combs' home, which the man says was designated for Christian Combs' birthday festivities.
Manzaro alleges Beyoncé and Jay-Z were also in attendance at the party. When asked by the singer why Manzaro was present, Mejias allegedly said, "Diddy wants him to see what we do to snitches. This is part of his punishment."
Manzaro was then "forcibly paraded through multiple rooms" while wearing a "cock mask," according to his complaint. After this, Combs allegedly demanded Manzaro be undressed and placed inside a shower area, where he was forcibly washed by two unidentified women.
Diddy legal win: Jane Doe's lawsuit dismissed after she refuses to reveal identity
Following the alleged shower, Manzaro claims he was forced to wear a "small thong bikini bottom and a black leather mask with a rubber dam forcibly inserted and zipped closed over his head." At the direction of Combs and English, Manzaro was subsequently subjected to "degrading and non-consensual acts."
Manzaro "was sexually assaulted and forced to partake in unwanted sexual activity," the lawsuit read, which included "using the mask and sex toy on a large black leather ottoman fist until he lost consciousness again."
After the alleged assault, the man claims he was transported to a "gang house," where he was "savagely beaten" and later "left for dead inside his apartment."
Diddy accuser claims he was targeted in harassment campaign
Manzaro claims that in the years following Combs' alleged assault, he was targeted by Mejias in an "ongoing campaign of targeted harassment," which included various death threats and a threat to kidnap the man's minor son.
Since the ordeal, Manzaro alleges he's suffered from "catastrophic physical injuries, including severe internal trauma, permanent groin damage, sexual maiming and multiple inguinal hernias," according to the lawsuit.
Moreover, the man has reportedly experienced "profound psychological trauma" and "economic damages" as a result of Combs' alleged assault.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs sued: Music mogul accused of sexual assault of man under 'coercive threat'
As compensation, Manzaro is asking the court to award him unspecified punitive damages "in an amount sufficient to punish" Combs and his associates and "deter them and others from engaging in similar misconduct in the future." He is also seeking a series of compensatory and treble damages.
In addition to these damages, Manzaro requested a jury trial and a "permanent injunction" to restrain Combs, his co-defendants and any of their representatives from harassing him, intimidating witnesses and altering or destroying evidence relevant to the case.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Solange Wore a Deconstructed Skirt at Telfar's 20th Anniversary Show
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." If Solange's style could be described in two words, it would be elegant and experimental. Much like her music, it's a balance she's mastered again and again, and last night was no different. In honor of Telfar's 20th anniversary, the Grammy-winning artist attended the brand's high-energy runway show during Juneteenth weekend in New York City. A vibrant celebration and display of community, Solange was one of the many recognizable faces in attendance to support founder and designer Telfar Clemens. For the event, the Grammy award-winning singer stepped out in her go-to color palette of dark-toned neutrals. Wearing a summer-appropriate bra-as-top sculptural black bandeau, she made a statement with the cropped fit cut cleanly across her chest. But the real standout of her look was her choice of bottom. She opted for a bold, deconstructed piece that combined a classic pinstriped button-down and a leather skirt into one seamless design. The shirt element was tied around the hips, creating an asymmetric, draped effect that added fluidity to her outfit. On her feet, she kept things sleek with square-toe black thong sandals. The minimal silhouette contrasted with the volume and movement of the skirt. As for her glam, Solange went for her signature understated and minimal makeup. Her barely-there approach featured a glowy and radiant base, lightly feathered brows, and a glossy pink lip. She also kept her hair down and loose in her usual waves. You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Machine Gun Kelly makes rare red-carpet appearance with daughter Casie: See the photos
Machine Gun Kelly may be an award-winning musician, but fatherhood remains the top gig. The Grammy-nominated rap-rocker (real name: Colson Baker) stepped out with his eldest daughter, Casie Baker, for a rare red-carpet appearance at the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on June 21. Kelly shares Casie, 15, with his ex Emma Cannon. He "definitely gives a lot of advice. He's more like a hype man, though," Casie told People magazine in an interview ahead of the ceremony, to which Kelly replied, "Yeah, I'm a cheerleader." The teen added that her rockstar dad encourages her to be herself. For their Kids' Choice Awards appearance, Casie was dolled up in a strapless bubblegum pink dress, while Kelly kept things sleek in an all-black romper and matching boots. Machine Gun Kelly reveals baby's name, gives shout-out to ex-fiancée Megan Fox Kelly has been busy in the fatherhood department as of late. The "My Ex's Best Friend" singer welcomed a daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker, in March with ex-fianceé Megan Fox. "Megan is in the no sleep club, for sure," Kelly, 35, told People. "Women are in the rougher trenches of the newborn process, but my specialty is music and laughs and whatever I can do to make her smile and kind of get introduced to the world with love." Earlier this week, Kelly revealed the baby's name in a June 17 Instagram post, which included an adorable video of the singer serenading the infant with a ukulele. Casie gushed that becoming an older sister has been "fun," adding, "It's really just so cute. I love her so much." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Saga marks Kelly and Fox's first child after calling off their January 2022 engagement. In a March 2024 interview on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Fox declined to go into detail about their current relationship status. "I think that what I've learned from being in this relationship is that it's not for public consumption, so I think, as of now, I don't have a comment on the status of the relationship, per se," she said. "What I can say is: That is what I refer to as being my 'twin soul,' and there will always be a tether to him no matter what."
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Tom Brady Captures Another Title, Wins Inaugural Fanatics Games and $1M Prize
Tom Brady is a champion once again. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback won the inaugural Fanatics Games at this weekend's Fanatics Fest in New York, earning him a $1 million prize. The all-time great was among 100 celebrities, athletes and fans to compete in the Fantatics Games, which consisted of eight competitions. The eight competitions consisted of activities from different sports, such as quarterback skills, basketball shooting, soccer goal-scoring and baseball pitching accuracy, among other competitions. One of the other competitions was a WWE Superstar entrance. In his WWE Superstar entrance, Brady spat on New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner jersey and ripped former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning's jersey. Manning later interrupted his entrance, jumping on top of him. That entrance helped Brady earn 399.1 total points in the Fanatics Games. Manning was also one of the athletes who participated, finishing in fifth with 314.5 total points as Brady was able to get some revenge over the quarterback who defeated him in two Super Bowls. Brady, a FOX Sports employee, collected his $1 million prize at the Javits Center on Sunday. However, he awarded $5,000 to each of the 50 fans who participated in the Fanatics Games, while the rest of that money will go to charity. Brady's participation in the Fanatics Games was just one of the few viral moments he had from Fanatics Fest over the weekend. On Friday, he struggled to pick out the real Rob Gronkowski in a group of 20 people dressed like his former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammate. On Saturday, Brady joined LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, streamer Kai Cenat and Maverick Carter for a live taping of "The Shop." "He's always done things the right way. He's always risen above all the noise and BS and continued to deliver," Brady said of James as he sat next to the Los Angeles Lakers star. "So you're witnessing the greatest ever, and I hope you guys will appreciate that." As for the other participants in the Fanatics Games, UFC fighter Justin Gaethje finished in second with 345.5 points. He won a a Ferrari 812 GTS for his performance. Matt Dennish, a 39-year-old teacher from Pennsylvania, finished with 326 points to place third in the competition. He outscored athletes such as James Harden, Tyreek Hill, Dwight Howard, Gronkowski, Michael Chandler and Micah Parsons, who all finished in the top 20 of the athletes who competed in the event. Harden dressed as Hulk Hogan for his WWE entrance. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was also among the athletes who participated, struggling in the pitching accuracy competition. He finished 36th in the competition. Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter had the worst showing among the athletes who competed at the event, while new Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant finished with the second-worst mark. Durant actually learned of his trade to the Rockets while he was speaking at an event during Fanatics Fest on Sunday. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
