Jailed rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has denied a new sexual assault allegation that is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The allegations reportedly come from 2020 and involve a music producer who was asked to attend a photo shoot inside a Los Angeles warehouse where Combs allegedly assaulted him.
Combs, who is serving a four-year prison sentence in New Jersey on prostitution-related charges, has denied this and all allegations of sexual abuse.
“Let me make it absolutely clear: Mr. Combs categorically denies as false and defamatory all claims that he sexually abused anyone,” one of Combs’ lawyers, Jonathan Davis, said in a statement to the BBC.
“He hopes to vindicate himself in the courts, where these matters are decided, and not in the media, based on admissible material evidence, not on speculation and baseless accusations,” Mr. Davis continued.
The sheriff’s department confirmed to the BBC that its special victims office is in the preliminary stages of investigating a sexual assault allegation against Combs. He said no further details would be given “given the sensitivity of the case.”
The male music producer accuses Combs of exposing himself and masturbating during the warehouse photo shoot, according to US media. Combs is accused of asking him to help him in sexual acts and throwing a dirty shirt at him when the producer refused, multiple news agencies report.
Dozens of people, including underage accusers, have filed civil lawsuits against Combs over allegations including being drugged and sexually assaulted. Some claims include that the music mogul made promises of career advancement or threats if accusers spoke out.
Earlier this year, the rapper was convicted at a trial in New York of two counts of transportation for prostitution. He was sentenced last month to a 50-month sentence.
The high-profile criminal case accused Combs of running an extensive sex trafficking operation and his trial included testimony from stars such as rapper Kid Cudi and Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
He was eventually found not guilty of the most serious charges, which could have led to him spending the rest of his life in prison.
“I got lost,” he wrote to the judge before his sentencing. “My fall was rooted in my selfishness. I have been humiliated and broken to the core.”
Combs is currently serving his sentence in New Jersey.
