A former stylist for Sean “Diddy” Combs — who testified in opposition to the disgraced music mogul in his federal prison trial earlier this yr — filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing Combs of sexual abuse and violence whereas he was in Combs’ make use of.
The 37-page lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket on behalf of Deonte Nash in opposition to Combs and Combs’ label, Dangerous Boy Leisure, additionally accuses Combs of sexual battery, human trafficking and false imprisonment.
In response to the lawsuit, Nash stated he was employed to be Combs’ stylist round 2008, on the age of 21, and labored for him till about 2018. Nash stated that in that point interval, he additionally labored as a stylist and artistic director for Combs’ then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassandra Ventura, who additionally accused Combs of sexual abuse in a 2023 lawsuit and gave graphic testimony in opposition to him in his trial.
“Nash personally skilled sexual, bodily, psychological, and emotional abuse by the hands of Defendants throughout his ten-year employment,” together with “compelled checks of loyalty and manipulation, sexual harassment and sexual assaults, bodily violence and manhandling, labor trafficking, threats of hurt, and threats of dying,” the lawsuit in opposition to Combs reads.
The lawsuit alleges that Nash was sexually assaulted by Combs on “a number of events.”
Nash stated the alleged abuse prompted him to resign in 2018, however Combs “continued to threaten Mr. Nash after his employment ended.”
CBS Information has reached out to Combs’ attorneys for touch upon the lawsuit.
In a single incident that Nash claims occurred in 2013 or 2014, Combs found that Nash and Ventura had gone out to dinner in L.A. with out Combs’ permission. The next day, the lawsuit states, Combs “threw” Nash “onto the automotive and violently strangled him.”
On one other event in 2014, Combs and his safety crew allegedly entered Nash’s dwelling with out permission, throughout which they “confiscated Mr. Nash’s keys and telephone whereas they forcibly searched the home” for Ventura, the lawsuit says.
“After enduring years of abuse, I lastly discovered the braveness in the course of the prison trial, and I’m now able to take motion,” Nash stated in a press release. “Sean Combs has by no means taken accountability for the years of hurt he inflicted on me and so many others.”
In July, following a prolonged trial, the 55-year-old Combs was discovered responsible of two counts of prostitution-related costs, however acquitted on extra critical costs of racketeering conspiracy and intercourse trafficking.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3.
In the course of the trial, Ventura testified that she was repeatedly bodily and sexually abused by Combs over the course of their relationship. She testified a few 2016 incident, which was caught on surveillance video, that confirmed Combs violently assaulting her within the hallway of a California resort.
Nash additionally testified within the trial that Combs threatened Ventura and that he “would beat her.”
Nash testified a few time when Combs allegedly grabbed a sleeping Ventura by the hair and began hitting her “fairly arduous.” Nash stated Ventura’s head hit a mattress body and began bleeding, and Combs then advised her, Nash and an assistant, “Look what y’all made me do.”
Nash testified he dialed 911 however was advised to hold up. He stated he feared retaliation however did inform a few of Combs’ workers concerning the alleged abuse and advised jurors Combs obtained bodily with him just a few instances.
In the course of the trial, Combs’ attorneys denied the sexual abuse allegations introduced by Ventura in opposition to their consumer, and argued that whereas proof confirmed Combs might have lived a celebration life-style, they claimed he didn’t have interaction in racketeering conspiracy or intercourse trafficking.
Nash’s lawsuit seeks each compensatory and punitive damages and calls for a jury trial.
Alice Gainer
contributed to this report.
