NFL star Odell Beckham Jr has denied any wrongdoing after saying he was named in a lawsuit that alleges Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs initiated a gang-rape against a woman in California.
In an initial lawsuit filed in October, Ashley Parham claims she was lured to an apartment in Orinda, California, and assaulted by multiple men. She alleges the assault was watched by Combs, who she had claimed had played a part in the killing of Tupac Shakur. An amended lawsuit filed on Friday is understood to have named former Beckham as one of her attackers.
On Monday, Beckham released a statement denying the allegations.
“I have been informed of the allegations about me in a suit in [California],” Beckham wrote on social media. “I really can’t even believe that my name is mentioned in that matter. There is absolutely no truth to those allegations. I do not know and have never met the person that filed the suit. I was not anywhere near Orinda, CA at that time. In fact, I don’t think I have ever even been to Orinda, CA. I have never done anything like that, and I would never do anything like that to anyone. I’m confident that these ridiculous claims against me will be dismissed.”
Law enforcement in Contra Costa county said in February they had investigated the allegations and concluded “the claims were unfounded.”
Combs’s legal team have also denied the allegations. “Mr Combs was nowhere near Orinda, California on the day Ms Parham claims she was assaulted there, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department has already confirmed Ms Parham’s claims were determined to be unfounded following a thorough investigation,” Combs’s lawyers said in a statement.
Beckham is currently a free agent and last played for the Miami Dolphins. The 32-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler and won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 season.
Combs is being held at the Metropolitan detention center in New York as he awaits trial on federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. His trial is set to begin in May.
