Lawyers representing Sean 'Diddy' Combs have taken legal action by filing a defamation lawsuit against an individual who allegedly made false claims about possessing videos that implicate the music mogul in sexual assaults on eight celebrities. The lawsuit, lodged in federal court in New York City, targets Courtney Burgess and his attorney, Ariel Mitchell, accusing them of fabricating baseless allegations to potentially profit from the media attention surrounding Combs, who is facing sex trafficking charges.
The lawsuit also names Nexstar Media, alleging that its cable news network, NewsNation, aired Burgess' claims without verifying their authenticity. Combs' legal team asserts that the alleged videos do not exist and that the dissemination of these falsehoods has tainted public perception and jeopardized Combs' right to a fair trial.
Despite requests for comment, Burgess and Mitchell have not responded. Nexstar Media Group declined to provide a statement on the matter. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to the sex trafficking charges, remains in custody awaiting trial.
Following Combs' arrest, Burgess began making public statements alleging that he possessed incriminating evidence against Combs, purportedly provided by the late Kim Porter, an actor and model who was Combs' longtime partner. However, individuals close to Porter have expressed skepticism about Burgess' claims, stating they were unaware of his existence. Burgess himself admitted to not having a personal connection to Combs.
Contrary to Burgess' assertions, federal prosecutors have not linked him to the criminal case. Burgess claimed that law enforcement seized the alleged videos from his residence, while Mitchell stated that Burgess had surrendered the drives to the government. The lawsuit disputes these claims, asserting that no such videos were ever handed over as they do not exist.
The legal action taken by Combs' attorneys aims to address the dissemination of false information that could prejudice the ongoing legal proceedings. The lawsuit serves as a warning against the intentional spread of misinformation that undermines the principles of justice and fairness.
