Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing allegations in two lawsuits filed on Monday, one of which accuses him of drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in a New York City hotel room in 2005. The boy, who remains unidentified, was an aspiring actor and rapper who had traveled with his parents from California for meetings with music industry representatives. According to the lawsuit, during what was supposed to be an audition for Combs, the boy was given a drug-laced soda by a Combs' associate and subsequently sexually assaulted by the Bad Boy Records founder. The boy lost consciousness and, upon waking, was threatened by Combs to keep silent about the incident or face harm to his parents.
The second lawsuit alleges that Combs similarly assaulted a 17-year-old male who was a would-be contestant on the reality television series “Making the Band” in 2008. The 17-year-old, also unidentified, claims that Combs forced him into sexual acts with both Combs and a bodyguard during a three-day audition for the show, which Combs produced. When the aspiring contestant expressed reservations, he was eliminated from the competition and barred from the music industry for seven years.
These lawsuits, filed in state Supreme Court in New York, are part of a growing number of legal actions in which accusers claim they were sexually assaulted by Combs at various parties and meetings over the past two decades. Combs' lawyers have denied the new allegations, accusing the plaintiffs' lawyer, Anthony Buzbee, who also represents accusers in earlier lawsuits, of seeking publicity. “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process,” an emailed statement said. “In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.” Combs, 54, is currently incarcerated in a New York City jail after pleading not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges. The charges include allegations of coercing and abusing women, as well as silencing victims through blackmail and violence.
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