Sara Rivers has brought forth allegations of sexual harassment against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in a lawsuit amounting to $60 million. Sara, who rose to fame from her appearance on Combs’ Making the Band show and was part of Da Band, recently filed a lawsuit spanning 148 pages against the rapper as the deadline for claims under New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Act approached. This lawsuit also names over twenty other defendants, including Universal Music, MTV, Bad Boy officials, and Combs’ mother, Janice. Among the claims made by Rivers are accusations of sexual harassment, assault, and battery by Combs, stating that she was subjected to harsh working conditions where she was critiqued for her appearance, among other grievances.
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In the detailed complaint, Rivers alleges that Combs physically assaulted her in a hallway, getting uncomfortably close to her and making inappropriate comments and gestures towards her. She also claims that Combs made threats towards other group members, including serious instances like threatening bodily harm. The lawsuit goes on to detail the aggressive and abusive behaviour exhibited by Combs towards Sara Rivers, accusing him of creating an inhumane working environment that intruded on her personal life, including controlling her eating and sleeping schedules and mocking her for her struggles with bulimia. Allegations were made that Rivers was specifically targeted by Combs with degrading and sexual comments, creating a hostile work environment for her and her bandmates.
Despite filming three seasons of Making the Band from 2002 to 2004, Rivers states that she and her bandmates were poorly compensated, receiving only a fixed amount per show. The lawsuit also mentions instances where Rivers was pressured into signing contracts against her will, feeling coerced to comply with Combs’ demands under threat of dissolution of the group. Moreover, after Da Band disbanded, Combs allegedly hindered Rivers’ music career prospects, effectively blocking her from further opportunities in the industry. In response to these claims, a representative for Combs rebutted the allegations, citing them as yet another round of false accusations filed against him, stating his confidence in the legal process to prove his innocence.
This lawsuit comes amidst a series of sexual misconduct allegations that have been directed at Combs by various individuals, all of which he has denied. In addition to the allegations made by Sara Rivers, fourteen new complaints were filed against Combs on the same day, further adding to his legal challenges. With the trial date set for May and Combs currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, these accusations have brought significant legal scrutiny and public attention to the rapper. For support or assistance in cases of sexual assault, individuals are encouraged to reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of these charges against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs remains to be seen, as he vehemently maintains his innocence amidst mounting legal challenges.