In the first nine months of 2023, triumphantly performed at the MTV VMAs, released an R&B album that garnered a Grammy nomination and was a suitor to buy the BET network.
But several lawsuits filed late last year raised allegations of sexual assault and rape against Combs B次元官网网址� one of hip-hopB次元官网网址檚 most recognizable names as a performer and producer.
The music mogulB次元官网网址檚 homes in Monday by federal agents with Homeland Security Investigators and other law enforcement. Officials said the searches were connected to an investigation by federal authorities in New York.
The officials spoke to The Associated Press on conditions of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation. CombsB次元官网网址� attorney and other representatives didnB次元官网网址檛 immediately respond to a request for comment, and his whereabouts are unknown.
Although Diddy was embroiled in one high-profile business dispute for part of 2023, it was a case filed by his former girlfriend and that opened the door to other claims of sexual violence. Combs has vehemently denied the allegations.
It is not clear whether the search is related to any of the allegations raised in the lawsuits, which include one from a woman who claims Combs .
Here are some things to know about Combs and the investigation.
WHO IS DIDDY?
Combs is among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades. He built one of musicB次元官网网址檚 biggest empires, blazing a trail with several entities attached to his famous name. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
The music mogul created the fashion clothing line called Sean John, was associated with a well-known vodka brand and launched Revolt TV network, which focuses on music and social justice issues targeting African Americans. He also produced the reality show B次元官网网址淢aking the BandB次元官网网址� for MTV.
In 2022, BET honored Combs with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his ability to shape culture through his career.
Combs won Grammys for his platinum-selling 1997 album B次元官网网址淣o Way OutB次元官网网址� and the single B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l Be Missing You,B次元官网网址� a song dedicated to the late Notorious B.I.G. who was killed earlier that year. He won another Grammy for B次元官网网址淪hake Ya TailfeatherB次元官网网址� with Nelly and Murphy Lee.
Last year, Combs released his fifth studio album B次元官网网址淭he Love Album: Off the Grid,B次元官网网址� which was nominated for best progressive R&B album at FebruaryB次元官网网址檚 Grammy Awards, which he did not attend. The album was his first solo project since his 2006 chart-topping B次元官网网址淧ress Play,B次元官网网址� which had two top 10 hit singles: B次元官网网址淟ast NightB次元官网网址� with Keyshia Cole and B次元官网网址淐ome to MeB次元官网网址� featuring Nicole Scherzinger.
In 2004, Combs played Walter Lee Younger in the Broadway revival of B次元官网网址淎 Raisin in the Sun,B次元官网网址� which aired as a television adaption four years later. HeB次元官网网址檚 also appeared in films including B次元官网网址淕et Him to the GreekB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淢onsterB次元官网网址檚 Ball.B次元官网网址�
WHAT SPARKED THE LAWSUITS?
In November, CombsB次元官网网址� protege and singer Cassie sued him for alleging years of sexual abuse including rape. The lawsuit alleged he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them.
Combs and Ventura began dating in 2007 and had an on-and-off relationship for more than a decade.
The suit was settled the day after it was filed, but the lawsuits against Combs kept coming.
Combs had said in a December statement, B次元官网网址淚 did not do any of the awful things being alleged.B次元官网网址�
In February, a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them. CombsB次元官网网址� attorney Shawn Holley has said of those allegations that B次元官网网址渨e have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies.B次元官网网址�
Another of CombsB次元官网网址� accusers was a woman who said the rap producer raped her two decades ago when she was 17.
The filings detail acts of sexual assault, beatings and forced drugging allegedly committed in the early 1990s by Combs, then a talent director, party promoter and rising figure in New York CityB次元官网网址檚 hip-hop community.
ANY REPERCUSSIONS FROM THE LAWSUITS?
Last year, Combs stepped down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt amid the sexual abuse allegations against him.
Revolt announced CombsB次元官网网址� decision via social media. ItB次元官网网址檚 not clear if he will ever return to the media company B次元官网网址� which said Combs previously had B次元官网网址渘o operational or day-to-day roleB次元官网网址� at the network.
B次元官网网址淭his decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and African diaspora,B次元官网网址� the network said.
The network had been preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Combs also created an online marketplace called that featured Black-owned brands. The website for the curated marketplace is still active, but shows no products being sold.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH DIAGEO?
Earlier this year, Combs withdrew the lawsuit filed last year as part of a settlement with the London-based spirits giant.
Combs said the company didnB次元官网网址檛 make promised investments in Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila B次元官网网址� two brands Combs promoted in the past B次元官网网址� and treated them as inferior B次元官网网址渦rbanB次元官网网址� products. He also .
In court filings, Combs said Diageo leadership told him race was one of the reasons it limited distribution to B次元官网网址渦rbanB次元官网网址� neighborhoods. Combs said he was also told some Diageo leaders resented him for making too much money.
In legal filings, Diageo of resorting to B次元官网网址渇alse and recklessB次元官网网址� allegations B次元官网网址渋n an effort to extract additional billionsB次元官网网址� from the company.
CombsB次元官网网址� reputation took a serious hit after the lawsuit was filed. Diageo became the sole owner of Ciroc and DeLeon after the lawsuit was withdrawn.
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
