Former Bad Boy Records singer Dawn Richard has sued Sean “Diddy” Combs

“Diddy” Combs has been accused of sexual abuse by Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane.

The 41-year-old singer, who claims the founder of Bad Boy Records repeatedly touched her, threatened her life, locked her in a car for two hours, and was physically abusive to other women, is suing the 54-year-old rap mogul, who is currently dealing with a number of sexual assault and human trafficking cases.

In a lawsuit filed in New York on Tuesday, October 9, 24 and obtained by Rolling Stone, Dawn stated that Diddy “manipulated her with mantras that submission to his depraved demands was necessary for career advancement, instilling in her the belief that such abuse and exploitation were required for female artists to succeed in the music industry” from the time she met him during an audition for “Making the Band” in 2004 until her career with him ended abruptly in 2012.”

In addition to claiming to have seen Diddy choke and strangle his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura—who had just reached a settlement with her former lover a day after filing her own sex trafficking and abuse lawsuit—she detailed dozens of encounters she claimed to have witnessed, including drug-fueled parties with young women who appeared “lethargic or passed out” while “Combs and his friends performed sexual acts on them.” She also claimed to have seen the late Kim Porter emerge from the recording studio in tears, showing visible facial injuries.

Between 2009 and 2011, Dawn claimed that her former bandmate Diddy-Dirty Money would storm into her changing room, “grope” her “bare buttocks,” and “attempted to touch her breasts.” In 2010, Dawn also claimed that Diddy had promised to purchase her a “[fake] t for Christmas.”

Dawn stated that despite her resistance to Diddy’s overtures, the more she fought, the more he retaliated against her by preventing her from singing certain portions of songs or by shutting off her microphone when she was performing.

Dawn said the “Finna Get Loose” hitmaker once punched her after she ordered him not to call her a “b****.” Dawn claimed she was the target of derogatory remarks regarding her appearance from Diddy for years.

“Mr. Combs’ bodyguard grabbed her, escorted her out of the studio, and forced her into the Bad Boy Records Bentley that was parked outside before Mr. Combs could strike her,” the lawsuit continued.

Dawn said that after calling her father, who hurried to the studio, she was eventually set free after being imprisoned in the icy car for two hours.