LOS ANGELES (AP) — Within the first 9 months of 2023, Sean “Diddy” Combs triumphantly carried out on the MTV VMAs, launched an R&B album that gained a Grammy nomination and used to be a suitor to shop for the BET community.
However a number of proceedings filed past due final 12 months raised allegations of sexual attack and rape in opposition to Combs — one among hip-hop’s maximum recognizable names as a performer and manufacturer.
The song multi-millionaire’s houses in Los Angeles and Miami have been searched Monday by way of federal brokers with Native land Safety Investigators and different legislation enforcement. Officers stated the searches have been hooked up to an investigation by way of federal government in New York.
The officers spoke to The Related Press on stipulations of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to publicly talk about main points of the investigation. Combs’ whereabouts are unknown however his legal professional stated Tuesday that the multi-millionaire is “blameless and can proceed to battle” to transparent his identify.
“The day past, there used to be a gross overuse of military-level power as seek warrants have been carried out at Mr. Combs’ flats,” stated the observation from legal professional Aaron Dyer. “There is not any excuse for the over the top display of power and hostility exhibited by way of government or the best way his kids and workers have been handled.”
Even supposing Diddy used to be embroiled in a single high-profile trade dispute for a part of 2023, it used to be a case filed by way of his former female friend and R&B singer Cassie that opened the door to different claims of sexual violence. Combs has vehemently denied the proceedings’ allegations.
It’s not transparent whether or not the hunt is said to any of the allegations raised within the proceedings, which come with one from a lady who claims Combs raped her when she used to be 17.
AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reviews on a seek of manufacturer P. Diddy’s homes in a imaginable prison investigation.
Right here are a few things to find out about Combs and the investigation.
WHO IS DIDDY?
Combs is likely one of the maximum influential hip-hop manufacturers and bosses of the previous 3 many years. He constructed one among song’s greatest empires, blazing a path with a number of entities hooked up to his well-known identify. He’s the founding father of Dangerous Boy Data and a three-time Grammy winner who has labored with a slew of top-tier artists together with Infamous B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Religion Evans and 112.
The song multi-millionaire created the fad clothes line referred to as Sean John, used to be related to a well known vodka emblem and introduced the Rebel TV community, which specializes in song and social justice problems concentrated on African American citizens. He additionally produced the truth display “Making the Band” for MTV.
In 2022, BET commemorated Combs with the Lifetime Fulfillment Award for his skill to form tradition thru his occupation.
Combs gained Grammys for his platinum-selling 1997 album “No Approach Out” and the one “I’ll Be Lacking You,” a tune devoted to the past due Infamous B.I.G. who used to be killed previous that 12 months. He gained every other Grammy for “Shake Ya Tailfeather” with Nelly and Murphy Lee.
Remaining 12 months, Combs launched his 5th studio album “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” which used to be nominated for perfect revolutionary R&B album at February’s Grammy Awards, which he didn’t attend. The album used to be his first solo undertaking since his 2006 chart-topping “Press Play,” which had two peak 10 hit singles: “Remaining Evening” with Keyshia Cole and “Come to Me” that includes Nicole Scherzinger.
In 2004, Combs performed Walter Lee More youthful within the Broadway revival of “A Raisin within the Solar,” which aired as a tv adaption 4 years later. He’s additionally gave the impression in movies together with “Get Him to the Greek” and “Monster’s Ball.”
WHAT SPARKED THE LAWSUITS?
In November, Combs’ protege and singer Cassie sued him for alleging years of sexual abuse together with rape. The lawsuit alleged he pressured her to have intercourse with male prostitutes whilst he filmed them.
Combs and Cassie Ventura started courting in 2007 and had an on-and-off dating for greater than a decade.
The swimsuit used to be settled the day after it used to be filed, however the proceedings in opposition to Combs saved coming.
Combs had stated in a December observation, “I didn’t do any of the grim issues being alleged.”
In February, a song manufacturer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and harassed him to have intercourse with them. Combs’ legal professional Shawn Holley has stated of the ones allegations that “we’ve got overwhelming, indeniable evidence that his claims are whole lies.”
Any other of Combs’ accusers used to be a lady who stated the rap manufacturer raped her 20 years in the past when she used to be 17.
The filings element acts of sexual attack, beatings and compelled drugging allegedly dedicated within the early Nineteen Nineties by way of Combs, then a ability director, birthday party promoter and emerging determine in New York Town’s hip-hop neighborhood.
ANY REPERCUSSIONS FROM THE LAWSUITS?
Remaining 12 months, Combs stepped down as chairman of his cable tv community Rebel amid the sexual abuse allegations in opposition to him.
Rebel introduced Combs’ choice by way of social media. It’s now not transparent if he’ll ever go back to the media corporate — which stated Combs up to now had “no operational or daily function” on the community.
“This choice is helping to make certain that Rebel stays steadfastly taken with our challenge to create significant content material for the tradition and magnify the voices of all Black other people all over this nation and African diaspora,” the community stated.
The community have been making ready to have fun its tenth anniversary.
Combs additionally created a web based market referred to as Empower International that featured Black-owned manufacturers. The site for the curated market continues to be lively, however displays no merchandise being bought.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH DIAGEO?
Previous this 12 months, Combs withdrew the lawsuit filed final 12 months in opposition to Diageo as a part of a agreement with the London-based spirits massive.
Combs stated the corporate didn’t make promised investments in Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila — two manufacturers Combs promoted previously — and handled them as inferior “city” merchandise. He additionally accused Diageo of racism.
In courtroom filings, Combs stated Diageo management informed him race used to be some of the causes it restricted distribution to “city” neighborhoods. Combs stated he used to be additionally informed some Diageo leaders resented him for making an excessive amount of cash.
In felony filings, Diageo accused Combs of resorting to “false and reckless” allegations “so that you can extract further billions” from the corporate.
Combs’ recognition took a significant hit after the lawsuit used to be filed. Diageo turned into the only real proprietor of Ciroc and DeLeon after the lawsuit used to be withdrawn.