A woman has filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing him of sexual assault that allegedly occurred in the early 2000s. This lawsuit comes as the music mogul faces federal charges related to sex trafficking and remains in custody. Thalia Graves submitted her complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming that Combs and his former bodyguard, Joseph “Big Joe” Sherman, “viciously raped her” at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City during the summer of 2001.
Graves is seeking damages for gender-motivated violence and for violating New York law by purportedly recording and sharing footage of her assault. The lawsuit names not only Combs and Sherman but also several of Combs’ companies, including Bad Boy Records.
During a press conference alongside her attorney, Gloria Allred, Graves described the emotional pain she has experienced since the alleged assault, stating it extends beyond physical harm and has left her with lasting emotional scars. She expressed feelings of shame and guilt, which have hindered her ability to function in daily life. Graves conveyed a sense of temporary relief that Combs is incarcerated but acknowledged ongoing struggles with anxiety and feelings of withdrawal.
In her lawsuit, Graves alleges that Combs exploited his relationship with her then-boyfriend, an executive at Bad Boy Records, to arrange a meeting under false pretenses. During this meeting, she claims she was given a drugged drink that caused her to lose consciousness, leading to the assault. She also alleges that Combs and Sherman recorded the assault and shared the footage with others, compounding her trauma and humiliation.
Graves’ lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and an order for Combs and Sherman to destroy all recordings of the alleged assault. The legal action has been framed as a response to their “brutalizing, misogynistic and violent attacks” that began in 2001 and continued with the dissemination of the assault video.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, support is available through the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673).