celebrity

A model alleges she was also assaulted by Diddy. She kept the clothes she was wearing as 'proof'.

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence that may be distressing to some readers/listeners.

The serious allegations against music mogul producer Sean 'Diddy' Combs continue to grow.

This week, an additional sexual assault lawsuit was filed in a Manhattan federal court by model Crystal McKinney.

She alleges that in 2003 she was attacked in Combs' recording studio. McKinney says the alleged sexual assault took place following a Men's Fashion Week event, where she had been having dinner with Combs and an unnamed fashion designer in New York.

She says she was "plied with alcohol" throughout the dinner by Combs, also claiming that Combs told her she "was going to make it big one day" as a model.

In the court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, McKinney described in detail what she wore the night of the alleged incident. She has also kept the clothing she wore that night ever since, reportedly in a bid to preserve potential alleged evidence.

She says she wore "a black leather coat with a fur hood, a translucent chiffon beige v-cut shirt, fur-lined handbag, and jewel encrusted jeans" on the night.

"Due to the traumatic events to occur later, Plaintiff saved the unwashed clothing from that night in her closet where they remain in a plastic wrap," the complaint said.

Crystal McKinney pictured in 2003. Image: Getty.

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"Seeing Plaintiff was very intoxicated, Combs demanded Plaintiff follow him and he physically led Plaintiff to the bathroom. In the bathroom, Combs forced himself on Plaintiff and began kissing her without her consent," the lawsuit read. He allegedly forced McKinney to "perform oral sex on him". 

She noted that modelling opportunities "quickly began to dwindle and then evaporated entirely" following the alleged assault. McKinney believed that Combs "blackballed" her in the industry.

McKinney says that as a result of the alleged assault, her mental health was severely impacted, including anxiety, depression and trouble with addiction. 

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Only after other women came forward with their own allegations, did McKinney feel comfortable speaking on her own, according to the complaint.

The latest allegations come just days after Combs issued a video apology after footage emerged of him assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.

Here's a timeline of all the recent allegations and lawsuits made against Combs.

Cassie sues Diddy.

In November 2023, Combs was sued by his ex-partner Cassie, who accused Combs of rape and repeated physical abuse over a decade.

Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, is an R&B singer once signed to Combs' record label. In a suit filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, she said that not long after she met him in 2005, he began a pattern of abuse including supplying her with drugs, physical assault and forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed it, per the New York Times.

In a statement, Cassie, 37, said she finally felt ready to speak up.

Watch: Diddy's 'apology' video following the release of footage of him assaulting Cassie. Post continues below.


Video via Instagram.
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"After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships," she said.

As well as claims of repeated assault, Cassie's lawsuit alleges Combs, 54, requested she carry his gun and blew up the car of rapper Kid Cudi, whom Cassie dated in 2012.

Cudi confirmed her account through a spokesperson: "This is all true," he told the New York Times.

In one incident, the suit claims Combs dangled Cassie's friend over a 17th-floor hotel balcony.

The suit states that after Cassie signed to Combs' label, which released her debut album in 2006, he began to exercise extreme levels of control over not just her career, but her apartment and clothing too. She states that Combs even had access to her personal medical records and after she had an MRI scan for memory loss, her results went directly to him.

It also features multiple direct instances of alleged violence, including an allegation that in 2018 Combs forced himself into Cassie's apartment and raped her. After that, the suit states, she left him for good.

Diddy responds to Cassie's allegations via her lawsuit.

Combs, through his lawyer, vehemently denied the allegations and alleged Combs has been 'blackmailed' by Cassie for the six months prior to the lawsuit being filed.

Combs said: "Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth."

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Just one day after Cassie filed the lawsuit, she settled with Combs out of court.

"We have decided to resolve this matter amicably," Combs said in a statement on November 18. "I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love."

Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Cassie when they were together. Image: Getty.

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Further allegations emerge.

In recent months, multiple accusers have also stepped forward, detailing their own sexual assault allegations against the music mogul.

A music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them. Combs' attorney Shawn Holley has said of those allegations that "we have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies".

Another of Combs' accusers was a woman who said the rap producer raped her two decades ago when she was 17.

Diddy's house is raided by federal agents.

On March 25, two properties belonging to Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by US federal agents.

Two law enforcement officials said the searches were connected to a sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York. It was not clear whether Combs was the target of the investigation.

The officials were not authorised to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.

A representative for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Video of Diddy assaulting Cassie emerges.

On May 18, horrifying surveillance video emerged of Combs violently assaulting Cassie in the hallway of a hotel. 

In the video, Combs is seen running through the hallway, holding a towel around his waist, determined to catch up to Cassie as she attempts to leave the hotel.

He then throws Cassie to the ground, and kicks her, before picking up the two bags she dropped as she hit the floor. He kicks her again, then drags her along the ground. When Combs walks away, Cassie stands and heads to the hotel phone. But he quickly returns, shoving his partner, before grabbing what appears to be a vase, and throwing it towards her. 

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"Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light," Cassie's lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement.

"The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs."

According to CNN, the incident happened in 2016, per Cassie's complaint.

Diddy issues a video apology.

Days after the footage was released, Combs addressed the harrowing footage, claiming, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.

"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," Combs said in a piece to camera shared on his Instagram. "I was f**ked up. I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video."

He continued: "I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help. Had to go into therapy, go into rehab. Had to ask God for His mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. But I'm committed to be a better man each and every day. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry."

Combs did not mention Cassie by name.

Cassie speaks out following the video release.

Cassie released a personal statement a week after the footage came to light.

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"Thank you for all the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet," she wrote on Instagram.

"The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become."

While she has come a long way from those dark days, Cassie says her "healing journey" is "never ending."

"With a lot of hard work, I am better today but I will always be recovering from my past."

She used the moment to speak up for other victims of domestic violence, urging everyone to "open your heart to believing victims the first time."

This post was originally published in November 2023 and has since been updated.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a national organisation that helps women, children and families move on after the devastation of domestic and family violence. Their mission is to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most. If you would like to support their mission you can donate here

Feature Image: Getty.