Alex Enumah in Abuja
Court documents sighted yesterday by THISDAY revealed that embattled music icon and rapper Sean “Diddy”, attempted to engage his producer, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones in “Gay Sex”.
Jones in the legal suit with number 24-1457, filed last month is accusing Diddy, his son, Justin Combs and 10 others of sexual assault, trafficking, fraud, and cover up of breach of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) amongst others.
The plaintiff who had worked with Diddy on his most recent record, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” had instituted the legal action over alleged abuse he suffered in the course of his work.
“Throughout his time living with Mr. Combs, Mr. Jones was the victim of constant unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching of his anus by Mr. Combs. These events took place in LA, NY, FL, and the United States Virgin Islands”, the documents stated.
The plaintiff in addition disclosed that as part of efforts at engaging him in gay sex, Diddy had capitalized on the fondness of Jones of another music producer, Steven Aaron Jordan (“Stevie J”).
According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tyrope Blackburn, “Mr. Combs used access to Stevie J, and his knowledge of Mr. Jones admiration of Stevie J to groom and entice Mr. Jones to engage in homosexuality.
“Mr. Combs went so far as to share a video of Stevie J anally penetrating a Caucasian male without a condom. This was done to ease Mr. Jones’ anxiety concerning homosexuality”.
He added that Diddy had explained the situation as a normal practice in the music industry, adding that, “look even Stevie J is doing it.”
Meanwhile, the plaintiff stated that Diddy also attempted to groom him in order to pass him off to his friends, including Cuba Gooding Jr. “As evidenced by a video, of which screenshots are imbedded below, Cuba Gooding Jr. began touching, groping, and fondling Mr. Jones’ legs, his upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks and his shoulders.
“Mr. Jones was extremely uncomfortable, and proceeded to lean away from Mr. Gooding Jr. He rejected his advances and Mr. Gooding Jr. did not stop until Mr. Jones forcibly pushed him away”.
Plaintiff, further disclosed that the rapper, On or about July 2, 2023, in California, had a “listening party” at his home. He said that the event which began at 7 pm, had Diddy requesting for female sex workers.
“In addition to sex workers, there were at least five women in the crowd that were under the age of sixteen. Mr. Combs forced all the women to drink laced DeLeon liquor. Upon information and belief, Mr. Combs laced the liquor with ecstasy.
“Mr. Combs did not check the identification of any of these underage girls. The presence of these underage women made Mr. Jones very uncomfortable.
“He attempted to leave, and Mr. Combs forced him to stay. Mr. Combs went so far as to take Mr. Jones’ car keys to prevent him from leaving.
“After being forced to drink laced DeLeon shots Mr. Jones began feeling lightheaded and recalls passing out and waking up at 4 am the following morning naked with a sex worker sleeping next to him.
“Screenshots of a video from that night is imbedded below”, the documents claimed.
Meanwhile, the plaintiff accused other defendants which include; Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records,
Love Records, and Universal Music Group) of conspiring to breach the Trafficking Victims Protection Act because of personal benefits.
According to him, “Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records, Love Records, and Universal Music Group knowingly and intentionally benefitted, financially and by receiving things of value, from participating in, assisting, supporting, and facilitating an illegal coercive sex-trafficking venture that was in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, together and with others, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a)(2).
“Defendants Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records, Love Records, and Universal Music Group took many concrete steps to aid and participate in Mr. Combs’ sex-trafficking venture. Among the concrete steps that Defendants Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records, Love Records, and Universal Music Group took to aid Mr. Combs was providing vast sums of cash, which made the sex trafficking venture possible. Providing Mr. Combs with large sum of U.S. currency caused Defendants Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records, Love Records, and Universal Music Group to receive financial benefits. Defendants Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records, Love Records, and Universal Music Group willingness to provide large amounts of cash to Mr. Combs was the quid pro quo for it receiving financial benefits from Mr. Combs”.
While stating that the case does not involve mere fraud, he alleged defendants criminal conduct in obstructing enforcement of the TVPA was outrageous and intentional because it was in deliberate furtherance of a widespread and dangerous criminal sex trafficking organization.
He submitted that by virtue of these violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(d), Defendants Lucian Charles Grainge, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Motown Records, Love Records, and Universal Music Group is liable to Mr. Jones for the damages he sustained and reasonable attorneys’ fees by operation of 18 U.S.C. § 1595.
Amongst the reliefs sought are : A declaratory judgment that the actions, conduct, and practices of Defendants complained of herein violate the laws of the State of New York;
b. An award of damages against Defendant, in an amount to be determined at Trial, plus prejudgment interest, to compensate Plaintiff for all monetary and/or economic damages, including, but not limited to, loss of past and future income, wages, compensation, seniority, and other benefits of employment;
c. An award of damages against Defendant, in an amount to be determined at Trial, plus prejudgment interest, to compensate Plaintiff for all non-monetary and/or compensatory damages, including, but not limited to, compensation for her mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, stress and anxiety, emotional pain and suffering, and emotional distress;
d. An award of punitive damages, in an amount to be determined at Trial;
e. Prejudgment interest on all amounts due;
f. An award of costs that Plaintiff has incurred in this action, including, but not limited to, expert witness fees, as well as Plaintiff’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs to the fullest extent permitted by law; and,
g. Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues of fact and damages stated herein.
