Lawyer Claims Diddy's A-List Friends Are Paying Off Victims To Avoid Being Named In Lawsuits
By Favour Adegoke on October 7, 2024 at 5:30 PM EDT
According to Texas-based Lawyer Tony Buzbee, celebrities linked to Sean "Diddy" Combs are already scrambling to distance themselves from the case by paying off victims.
Some celebrities implicated in the lawsuit involving the embattled rapper's alleged 120 victims have reportedly avoided public exposure thanks to the hush money.
Recently, there has been major media coverage of Sean "Diddy" Combs after his arrest and charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Lawyer Claims Alleged Victims Have Settled With A 'Handful' Of Diddy's Famous Pals
Following Diddy's arrest, all of his celebrity friendships have come under intense scrutiny, with many being accused of being part of the debauchery that allegedly occurred at the rapper's infamous parties.
Although Diddy is the sole individual implicated in his federal sex crimes charges, a new lawsuit filed by 120+ alleged victims of the Bad Boy mogul has threatened to expose the names of other high-profile individuals potentially connected to his actions.
However, amid the uncertainty about who they are, some have reportedly begun paying off victims to avoid being named in public when the law is tried.
"In every single case, especially cases like this … because it's in the best interests of the victim, we attempt to resolve these matters without the filing of a public lawsuit, and we've done that already with a handful of individuals, many of which you've heard of before," the victims' lawyer Tony Buzbee said, per TMZ.
Diddy's High Profile Friends' Names Will 'Create A Firestorm' When Revealed
Buzbee refrained from revealing how many individuals were implicated; however, he did hint at the reason behind the delay in naming individuals who have opted to ignore his demand letters.
He said, "We want to make sure if we name individuals beyond Mr Combs that we have done our homework because it is going to create a firestorm, and we understand that."
As for those who merely observed Diddy during his infamous "Freak Offs" but did not actively participate, Buzbee indicated that they, too, would face legal consequences.
The attorney remarked, "If you were there in the room, participated, watched it happen, and didn't say anything or helped cover it up, in my view, you have a problem."
Of the victims now being represented by Buzbee, 25 claim they were minors at the time of the alleged abuse. However, the specific details surrounding these incidents remain undisclosed but may be revealed when the lawsuit goes to trial.
The Lawyer Representing 120 Accusers Wants More Victims To Come Forward
In a prior interview, Buzbee asked more victims to come forward and reveal their assault to help build a stronger case against Diddy.
"As we do this important work, we ask that the public understand it is very difficult and takes an incredible amount of courage for victims to come forward," Buzbee said, per the Mirror. "Further, I'm also asking that if you have been victimized or are a witness to the alleged behavior, please come forward. Your identity will remain confidential at this time."
In response to the new accusations, a rep for Diddy revealed that the public should not expect any specific response from the rapper.
"As Mr. Combs' legal team has emphasized, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus," the individual mentioned.
They also said that Diddy has already "emphatically and categorically" denied any claim that he "sexually abused anyone" and "looks forward to proving his innocence."
Music Industry Bigwigs Are 'Losing Sleep' Over The Scandal
Top entertainment lawyer Bryan Freedman told Page Six that the new allegations against Diddy and the grand jury indictment have left many stars in the music industry anxious.
"Many people at the highest level, including artists, executives, managers, and others, are not sleeping well right now," Freedman said. "Those who have knowingly allowed and/or encouraged the behavior while remaining silent should be concerned."
He noted that he "represents a number of people who have been concerned about being wrongfully mentioned or rumored to be a part of this just by an association unrelated to any wrongdoing."
"They don't want to be part of some rumor mill because they have some tangential connection to Combs," the lawyer added.
Freedman went further to encourage big names in the music business who may be losing sleep over the possibility of being dragged into the rapper's case to seek legal representation rather than remain anxious.
More Suits Have Been Filed Against Diddy After His Arrest
The 120 alleged victims are not the only ones to have come after Diddy following his arrest; two other victims have also recently accused the rapper of sexual assault.
The first, Thalia Graves, claimed that Diddy and an associate of his raped her after giving her a drugged drink. He also bullied her with threats of repercussions if she ever revealed the assault to the authorities.
The assault reportedly occurred at his Bad Boy Records studio in New York City back in 2001, with Graves being 25 at the time.
The other woman, who remained anonymous, claimed that Diddy abused her for four years after first meeting him in 2020. In 2022, she became pregnant for the rapper but was unable to carry the baby to term due to a miscarriage.
In her suit, she also claimed that Diddy continued to contact her until July 2024, around the same time rumors about him being charged by federal prosecutors were gaining ground.