Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard Accuses Sean "Diddy" Combs of Sexual Assault in New Lawsuit

Another accuser has sued Sean "Diddy" Combs for alleged sexual assault and other abuse—this time a former member of Danity Kane.

Singer Dawn Richard alleges in her lawsuit, filed Sept. 10 and obtained by E! News, that the rap mogul subjected her to "years of inhumane working conditions which included groping, assault, and false imprisonment." E! News has reached out to Combs' attorney for comment and has not heard back.

The 41-year-old began working with the rap mogul in 2004 when she competed on MTV reality show Making the Band for a spot in his new girl group, later named Danity Kane, and signed with his record label. In 2009, Richard became a member of Combs' trio Diddy – Dirty Money.

The "Ride for You" singer lists several alleged incidents of sexual assault and other misconduct from the rapper, 54, in the lawsuit. "Mr. Combs frequently held meetings with Ms. Richard wearing only his underwear," it states, "despite Ms. Richard’s protests and repeated requests for him to put on clothing."

The singer also alleges in her filing that while she was working with Diddy – Dirty Money, Combs repeatedly ordered her to strip down to her underwear, made demeaning remarks about her body and intruded into her changing room unannounced while she was undressed and touched her without permission "under the guise of showing the stylist what to do."

Richard also alleges that in 2010, Combs offered to pay for her to undergo a breast augmentation as a Christmas gift and then touched her chest without her permission.

Richard alleges she also suffered sexual harassment, gender discrimination and a hostile work environment by being exposed to "sex trafficking and sex acts." She stated in her lawsuit that often while they were recording in the studio, Combs would hold "parties" and that she observed him and his colleagues "kissing, groping, and inappropriately touching" young women.

Richard's false imprisonment claim stems from an alleged 2010 incident. She said Combs' bodyguard locked her inside a Bentley with no interior door handles for more than two hours after she and the rapper got into a confrontation, during which she says he swung his fist toward her face.

Richard said she phoned her father for help and that after he arrived hours later, Combs' colleague ordered the bodyguard to release her and her dad confronted the Bad Boy Records founder.

"Once Ms. Richard’s father expressed that he intended to contact police," the lawsuit says, "Mr. Combs warned him to 'think about your family' and 'think about your daughter’s career.'"

In her filing, Richard is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as other costs for the post traumatic stress, anxiety and other emotional suffering and financial losses she suffered as a result of Combs' alleged behavior.

Richard is one of several people who have sued Combs for sexual assault and other misconduct in less than a year. He has denied all the allegations from prior lawsuits.

In November 2023, his ex-girlfriend Cassie, also known as Cassie Ventura, filed a sexual abuse, sex trafficking and battery lawsuit against the rapper. They settled the case one day later, with Combs' lawyer telling E! News in a statement that this "does not in any way undermine" his client's "flat-out denial of the claims."

This past May, surveillance footage showing the rap mogul physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016 was leaked online. Two days later, Combs released an Instagram video in which he called his behavior "inexcusable" and said he was "truly sorry," without mentioning his ex.

In her lawsuit, Richard alleges that Combs "openly assaulted" Cassie in front of her and other people "on multiple occasions." She said she offered Cassie support and encouraged her to leave Combs, adding that he later found out about the interactions and "became enraged, threatening Ms. Richard's life."

"It was not until Ms. Ventura’s bravery in coming forward," the lawsuit states, "that Ms. Richard realized her own personal suffering was tied to the many years of abuse by Mr. Combs that had become normalized for her."

Richard filed her lawsuit one day after a Michigan judge ordered Combs to pay over $100 million to inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who sued the rapper for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting him in 1997, according to court records viewed by E! News. The default judgment was reached after Combs failed to appear for a virtual hearing in the case.

Cardello-Smith, 51, is currently serving time in prison on 12 sentences related to criminal sexual conduct and two sentences related to kidnapping that stem from unrelated cases, court records show.

Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, disputed the judgement, telling E! News in a statement, "This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years."

The attorney continued, "His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed."

E! News has reached out to lawyers for Cardello-Smith for comment, but has not heard back.

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