A damning lawsuit unveiled by PEOPLE sheds light on fresh allegations of sexual assault levied against the embattled music mogul, Sean "Diddy" Combs, who currently languishes in jail awaiting federal sex crime trial. Amidst this turmoil, both Combs, 54, and his former bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, find themselves ensnared in a new legal quagmire.
On Tuesday, September 24th, a heart-wrenching complaint seeking a jury trial was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, detailing the harrowing account of Thalia Graves, a woman who claims she was just 25 when she was brutally raped by Combs and his then-head of security, Sherman, at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City's sweltering summer of 2001.
In a tearful press conference that followed, Graves, her voice trembling with emotion, recounted the alleged assault that has haunted her ever since, leaving her "worthless and isolated," her words echoing the depths of her trauma. "The harm extends far beyond the physical," she soberly declared, "It's a pain that pierces to the very soul, inflicting a devastating toll on my mental health." She recounted struggles with PTSD, relentless flashbacks, nightmarish visions, and suicidal thoughts, a legacy of unspeakable suffering.
With a glimmer of fleeting relief, Graves noted, "I'm glad Diddy is locked up, but it's only temporary solace." Her legal representative, Gloria Allred, announced that Graves seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, the exact amount to be determined in court.
The complaint paints a chilling picture of how Combs allegedly exploited Graves' relationship with one of his employees to lure her into a fateful encounter with him and Sherman. Once isolated, Graves alleges they administered a drug-laced drink, rendering her unconscious, and upon awakening, she found herself bound and helpless, facing the horror of anal and vaginal rape.
The document further exposes the depths of depravity, detailing how Graves' screams were met with brutality as Sherman allegedly slammed her face onto a pool table, where she vomited in terror, only for Combs to continue his assault unfazed. The alleged aftermath left Graves contemplating suicide, her world shattered.
For years, Graves suffered in silence, fearing retaliation. However, her anguish deepened when she learned in November 2023 that the assault had been filmed and was being circulated or sold as pornography, adding another layer of betrayal to her already unbearable pain.
Combs, who was arrested on September 16th and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution, has pleaded not guilty but remains detained without bail. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, vows to vigorously defend his client, anticipating a protracted legal battle.
A hearing for Combs is scheduled for October 9th at 2 p.m., while Sherman's legal representation remains uncertain. As the legal proceedings unfold, Graves' brave voice stands as a testament to the strength of those who refuse to be silenced in the face of such unspeakable atrocities.
