In a significant legal development, Sean “Diddy” Combs and his former bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, are facing new allegations of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed on September 24, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint, obtained by PEOPLE, comes as Combs, 54, is currently incarcerated awaiting trial on federal sex crime charges.
The plaintiff, Thalia Graves, claims she was sexually assaulted by Combs and Sherman in the summer of 2001 at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City when she was 25 years old. According to the lawsuit, the assault was recorded on video, and Graves asserts that the experience has led her to have suicidal thoughts and severe emotional distress ever since.
During a press conference to address the lawsuit, Graves expressed her deep emotional pain, stating, “This has taken a toll on my mental health,” and detailing the ongoing struggles with PTSD, flashbacks, and nightmares that followed the alleged assault. She described feeling “worthless and isolated,” emphasizing that the impact of the alleged rape extends far beyond physical harm.
Graves, who was reportedly dating one of Combs’ employees at the time, alleges that Combs exploited this relationship to arrange a meeting with her and Sherman. The lawsuit claims that after isolating her, they provided her with a drink that was likely drugged, causing her to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, Graves alleges she found herself bound and restrained and was raped both anally and vaginally.
Graves did not report the incident at the time out of fear of retaliation from Combs and Sherman, but she has since suffered from depression and anxiety, which intensified after learning in November 2023 that a video of the alleged assault had been recorded and purportedly shared or sold by Combs and Sherman.
The complaint details a disturbing sequence of events during the alleged assault, stating that when Graves screamed upon regaining consciousness, Sherman allegedly slammed her down onto a pool table, and Combs continued the assault despite her distress.
Currently, Combs is in custody following his arrest on September 16, facing charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty and has been denied bail on two occasions. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has stated that Combs intends to fight the allegations vigorously, expressing confidence in his client’s innocence.
A hearing for Combs is scheduled for October 9 at 2 p.m. At this time, it is unclear whether Sherman has secured legal representation to comment on the allegations.
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