A former producer is suing Diddy, accusing him of assault and threats
Sean “Diddy” Combs is accused of assaulting and sexually harassing former employee Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones in a new lawsuit.
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Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., the music producer who sued Sean “Diddy” Combs last month, has formally accused Cuba Gooding Jr. of sexual assault, naming him as a defendant in his complaint, which was amended Monday.
The civil suit, filed in New York federal district court, came hours after Homeland Security Investigations agents raided two of Combs’ homes.
Jones previously named Gooding, 56, in her lawsuit in February, accusing the actor of sexually harassing and assaulting him on a yacht chartered by Combs, 54, in the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 2023. Until now, Gooding was not named as accused.
USA TODAY has reached out to Gooding’s representative for comment.
According to the lawsuit, Combs tried to “turn” Jones over to Gooding, introducing him to the Oscar-winning actor and leaving the two alone in a studio on Combs’ yacht.
“Cuba Gooding Jr. began to touch, grope and fondle Mr. Jones’ legs, the upper part of his inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks and his shoulders,” the lawsuit states Jones.
The complaint includes a photo that allegedly shows Gooding with his arm around Jones, along with a photo that allegedly shows Combs and Gooding talking on the yacht.
Combs “failed to intervene and stop” Gooding from “sexually assaulting” Jones, the lawsuit says.
Original story: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of sexual assault against ‘Love Album’ producer in new lawsuit
Gooding has faced several lawsuits in recent years for alleged sexual assault, rape and forcible touching.
Jones’ case has implicated other celebrities, including rapper Yung Miami, whose unnamed cousin was accused of sexual assault after she allegedly “barged into the bathroom and groped” Jones during a Thanksgiving 2022 gathering. Jones also alleged that producer Stevie J helped recruit sex workers for Combs and they participated in sex parties called “freak-offs” (a term Combs allegedly used to refer to sex workers) according to the lawsuit.
Jones worked with Combs on his latest record, “The Love Album: Off the Grid.” According to Jones, he and Combs worked together between September 2022 and November 2023, a partnership that resulted in nine songs on “The Love Album,” for which Jones is credited as a producer. Jones also claims he was not paid for “13 months (and) thousands of hours of work.”
Diddy denied Jones’ allegations against him.
Diddy’s sex-trafficking suit: Mogul parties with celebrities like Prince Harry provide ‘legitimacy’
Although he has not been charged with wrongdoing, the lawsuit cites Prince Harry as an example of how Diddy’s parties as a “popular and highly influential” figure greatly benefited the other defendants in the suit, Universal Music Group and Motown Records.
“Association with … Combs has gained legitimacy, massive success and access to top and rising artists, celebrities, famous athletes, political figures, musicians and international dignitaries,” including “Prince Harry.”
Diddy’s New York, Miami homes were raided by Homeland Security Investigations
The amended suit follows a reported break-in at two of Combs’ homes. The homes were reportedly searched by HSI on Monday as part of a federal investigation.
Federal agents raided Combs’ Los Angeles home on Monday, according to Rolling Stone and local Los Angeles news station Fox 11, amid lawsuits filed against him by accusers who say the rapper and music mogul raped them or sexually assaulted. Agents also searched Combs’ Miami residence on Monday, Rolling Stone and The Associated Press reported.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline. RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
Contributed by KiMi Robinson