Embattled rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against music manager Courtney Burgess, Burgess’ attorney Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar Media Inc., the parent company of NewsNation.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Burgess fabricated claims about Combs, which Mitchell endorsed and NewsNation disseminated.
In the fall of 2024, shortly after testifying before a grand jury, Burgess appeared on NewsNation, claiming to possess nearly a dozen flash drives containing explicit videos allegedly tied to Combs. According to Burgess, the videos feature male and female celebrities, as well as minors, all appearing to be under the influence of substances.
Mitchell supported her client’s accusations during interviews, claiming that one of the men in the footage is “more high-profile” than Combs. “I can verify that it exists — that it’s real and that the other person in the video is very visible,” she stated.
In his complaint, Combs refutes these claims, alleging that Burgess “falsely asserted he possessed videos of [Combs] engaged in the sexual assault of celebrities and minors.” The suit accuses Burgess of repeatedly sharing these claims with media outlets, including NewsNation, which the complaint says “recklessly amplified his lies as if they were true.”
The lawsuit further accuses Mitchell of knowingly spreading false information or, at the very least, of acting recklessly by failing to verify her client’s allegations. “Because no such tapes exist, and because Mitchell never saw any video depicting [Combs] sexually abusing anyone, her statements were either blatant falsehoods or the result of a reckless disregard for the truth,” the filing reads.
According to the lawsuit, the actions of Burgess, Mitchell, and NewsNation have caused “profound reputational and economic harm” to Combs, as well as prejudiced his ability to receive a fair trial.
In a statement to Page Six, Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff, emphasized that the lawsuit is intended to deter such defamatory claims. “This should serve as a warning that intentional falsehoods, which undermine Mr. Combs’ right to due process, will not be tolerated,” Wolff said.
Representatives for Burgess, Mitchell, and NewsNation have not commented on the lawsuit.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and remains detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Combs also faces several lawsuits alleging similar behavior but has consistently maintained his innocence.
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