A new lawsuit has been filed against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, a music mogul and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, alleging that a former bodyguard and a young woman were sexually assaulted and abused in 2001. Thalia Graves is suing Combs for drugging, bounding, and raped her in Diddy’s House recording studio in New York City. Graves claims that Combs and his bodyguard, Joseph ‘Big Joe’ Sherman, documented the situation and sold it as pornographic.

Combs has faced multiple lawsuits in recent months, and this is just one of them.

It was filed in the Southern District of New York and comes shortly after Combs was arrested and held without bail following a separate federal indictment. Graves, the 11th person to accuse Combs, has come forward.

During a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, she spoke about her traumatic experience, recounting the ‘intrinsic pain’ she has endured since the alleged assault, which caused her to break down in tears.

Allegations of Assault and Exploitation

Graves claims that she met Combs in 1999 through her then-boyfriend, who was an executive at Bad Boy Entertainment. Attending events hosted by Combs and visiting Diddy’s House recording studio was a routine for her. In her lawsuit, Graves alleges that Combs invited her to meet and discuss her boyfriend’s ‘performance issues’ at the label. Graves agreed to help, but the meeting turned out to be a nightmare soon after.

Graves alleges that Combs and Sherman escorted her in an SUV and provided her with a glass of wine. According to her, after consuming a few sips, she experienced disorientation, believing that her drink had been drugged. After arriving at the studio, Graves reported that she was barely able to walk and eventually lost consciousness.

Upon regaining consciousness, she found herself bound, naked, and in a vulnerable position. Sherman is accused of physically restraining her as Combs entered the room and violently assaulted her. Despite her cries for assistance, Combs continued the assault, slamming her head on a pool table and anally raping her. Graves alleges that she lost consciousness once more and then woke up to Sherman forcing her to have oral sex.

Impact of the Assault

According to Graves, the attack caused her emotional and psychological devastation, resulting in severe PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations. She revealed that the assault has made it difficult for her to rely on others and feel secure in her own body.

“Emotionally, I am scarred. The trauma has taken a toll on my mental health,” she said during her press conference. Graves has also moved multiple times due to threats she claims were made by Combs and Sherman, warning her to stay quiet about the alleged rape.

The Secret Recording

Graves claims that she learned in 2023 that Combs and Sherman had videotaped the assault and distributed the footage as pornography. According to her ex-boyfriend, who also appears in the lawsuit, Combs and Sherman had a ‘pattern and practice’ of recording non-consensual sexual acts and selling the tapes. Graves is expressing her constant fear since the attack and is currently seeking justice through the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act and other civil rights laws in New York City.

Ongoing Legal Battles for Combs

This lawsuit is just one of many accusations against Combs, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least seven other women in recent months. These allegations followed a high-profile lawsuit filed by singer Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura on November 2023, accusing Combs of sex trafficking and abuse. Ventura settled the lawsuit with Combs within 24 hours, but she claims led to the disclosure of other victims.

Joi Dickerson-Neal, one of the two women who filed lawsuits against Combs on Thanksgiving 2023, accused him of drugging and assaulting her while she was a student at Syracuse University in 1991. She claimed that Combs filmed the assault and showed the tape to others, which is a resemblance to Graves’ complaint.

In December 2023, a different suspect claimed that Combs, Harve Pierre, and a third individual gang-raped her in the recording studio where Graves claims her assault took place. Combs are being accused of violent sexual abuse and harassment by models, former associates, and musicians, and the accusations have continued to pile up.

Seeking Accountability

Gloria Allred, Graves’ lawyer, made it clear that her client is seeking justice and accountability for the trauma she suffered. “Our goal for Thalia is very simple. We want justice for her, and we are looking forward to winning it. It is long overdue for those who have caused her to suffer to be held accountable,” Allred said at the press conference.

Combs, a once untouchable music mogul, is now facing a growing legal challenge, not just from civil lawsuits but also from a potential criminal prosecution that could significantly alter his legacy. The litany of accusations that threaten to dismantle Combs’ empire may be furthered by more women coming forward as the cases against him continue to unfold.

The Next Chapter

Thalia Graves is among the many who are determined to hold Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accountable for his alleged actions at the moment. As the lawsuit continues, it remains to be seen how these claims will affect the reputation and future of the music icon. Graves’ lawsuit is an additional grim reminder of the trauma that many survivors face when seeking justice.