The Los Angeles County sheriff’s department is investigating Sean “Diddy” Combs for sexual battery, NBC News and ABC News report. Deputy Alejandra Parra confirmed to Pitchfork that the department received a report from the Largo Police Department, in Florida, on Friday, November 14, and that the department’s special victims bureau will be investigating the allegations. The Largo Police Department is not also independently investigating Diddy, according to ABC News.
According to NBC News, the police report details an alleged 2020 incident involving Diddy and a male music producer and publicist. Diddy allegedly invited the man to a photo shoot at a Los Angeles warehouse. At the shoot, Diddy allegedly masturbated under a shirt, exposed himself, and asked the male producer and publicist to perform a sex act on him. When the man did not respond, Diddy allegedly threw the dirty shirt at him.
The next year, according to the reports, the man was back in Southern California for a project related to the photo shoot. While at a house, two men covered his head and took him to a room where Diddy allegedly yelled at him, called him a snitch, and sexually assaulted him. The alleged victim’s name is redacted in the police report.
In a statement to ABC News, Jonathan Davis, an attorney for Diddy, said: “As Mr. Combs’ legal team has repeatedly stated for over a year now, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a media circus. Let me make it absolutely clear, Mr. Combs categorically denies as false and defamatory all claims that he sexually abused anyone. He looks forward to vindicating himself in court, where such matters are decided—and not in the media—based on admissible, material evidence, not rank speculation and unsubstantiated allegations.”
Diddy is currently serving a 50-month federal prison sentence after he was found guilty, in July, on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy and his legal team are appealing the sentence as the rapper serves time at the federal correctional institution at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He is participating in a drug abuse rehabilitation program that could help him get released from custody earlier than the projected date of Sunday, June 4, 2028.
The sexual battery investigation is separate from the federal criminal charges that were brought against Diddy. He is still facing numerous lawsuits related to allegations of sexual violence. Diddy has denied most allegations of wrongdoing.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
https://www.rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
