A new lawsuit filed on Tuesday by former model Crystal McKinney alleges that multimillionaire rapper and producer Sean Diddy Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2003 after an event in New York City. This marks the seventh lawsuit against Diddy, coming shortly after exclusive surveillance footage showed him physically attacking his then-girlfriend in 2016.
McKinney claims that in 2003, at the age of 22, she met Diddy, who promised to help her career. After a New York Fashion Week event, she states that Diddy invited her to his recording studio where the alleged assault took place. The lawsuit details McKinney's account of being drugged and assaulted by Diddy in the studio's bathroom.
McKinney's decision to sue Diddy now was influenced by the courage of other women, including Cassie Ventura, who have come forward with similar allegations. The New York Victims of Gender Motivated Violence Protection Law allowed McKinney to file the lawsuit by extending the statute of limitations.
Diddy's team has not responded to the latest lawsuit, although he issued a blanket denial in December 2023. The release of the surveillance video led to Diddy issuing an apology, but he has not addressed McKinney's specific allegations.
These allegations add to the ongoing legal challenges Diddy is facing, raising questions about accountability and justice in cases of sexual assault. The impact of McKinney's lawsuit and the broader conversation around the statute of limitations highlight the complexities of prosecuting such crimes.
