Sean “Diddy†Combs and a former bodyguard are accused of drugging, tying up, and assaulting a woman in a studio back in 2001, with the incident allegedly being filmed and sold as porn.
Thalia Graves cried at a press conference in Los Angeles, talking about the pain she’s felt since the attack, saying, “The trauma of the assault has taken a toll on my mental health. I have PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I am emotionally scarred.†She mentioned that although Combs is in jail without bail due to a federal indictment, it’s just a temporary relief for her.
Graves is the 11th person to accuse Combs of sexual assault, stating the attack happened at Daddy’s House recording studio in New York. Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, stated, “Our goal for Thalia is very simple. We want justice for her, and we are looking forward to winning it.â€
Fans wonder why such incidents keep happening, causing pain and suffering.
Graves said she met Combs through her boyfriend, an executive at Bad Boy, and attended many events at Combs’ homes and his studio. When Rolling Stone contacted her ex-boyfriend, he admitted to seeing the tape but only noticed Graves and the bodyguard Joseph Sherman in it.
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According to the lawsuit, Combs called Graves to discuss her boyfriend’s work issues. Graves agreed, thinking she could help. But it turned out to be a ploy to abuse and humiliate her and her boyfriend.
Later, Combs arrived at Graves’ home in an SUV driven by Sherman. Graves accepted wine from Combs and soon felt dizzy. By the time they reached the studio, she struggled to walk and eventually passed out in Combs’ office.
The lawsuit says, “In retrospect, it is clear that Combs had caused a drug to be put into Plaintiff’s drink, as a few sips of wine had never impacted her that way.â€
When Graves woke up, she was tied up and naked. Sherman slammed her face into a pool table when she yelled for help. The lawsuit states, “Shortly thereafter, Combs entered the room naked… forcefully held her down, and anally penetrated her without her consent.â€
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Graves screamed but Combs ignored her and continued the assault, smashing her head into the table when she tried to escape. After losing consciousness again, Sherman allegedly slapped her and forced her to perform oral sex.
Graves woke up later on a couch, naked and alone, in immense pain. She called a family driver who took her to the hospital. Despite the driver’s advice to report the rape, Graves was too scared of what Combs might do to her and her family.
Over the years, Graves moved multiple times due to threats from Combs and Sherman. She did tell close friends about the incident, though. In November 2023, after Cassie Ventura filed a similar lawsuit, Graves learned from her ex-boyfriend that Combs and Sherman had recorded the assault and shown it to others.
Graves suffers from PTSD, severe depression, and has attempted suicide. She’s suing Combs, Sherman, and eight of Combs’ companies under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act and other laws.
This lawsuit adds to a list of others against Combs, including those filed by Cassie Ventura and two more women on Thanksgiving. Joi Dickerson-Neal alleged Combs drugged and assaulted her in 1991 and recorded it. Liza Gardner claimed Combs and Aaron Hall raped her in 1990.
In December, another accuser said Combs and others gang-raped her at his studio in 2003. Rodney “Lil Rod†Jones also sued Combs for assault and unpaid work.
After federal agents searched Combs’ homes, more women came forward with similar allegations.
Model Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit on May 21, claiming Combs drugged and assaulted her in 2003 after a fashion show. On May 24, April Lampros, a former Arista Records intern, said Combs assaulted her multiple times over four years and recorded it.
Earlier this month, Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money, accused Combs of harassment and assault, forcing her into commercial sex acts through threats and violence.
