Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of sexually assaulting a teenage 'Making the Band' contestant and a 10-year-old boy in new lawsuits

By Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN

(CNN) — Two new civil lawsuits have been filed against them Sean “Diddy” Combs by anonymous male accusers who claim they were underage when they were sexually assaulted during auditions by the music mogul – someone who claims he was ten years old at the time.

Combs said in a statement to CNN that he denies the latest allegations against him.

The controversial musician and businessman, who is in custody in New York awaiting criminal trial, now faces at least 27 civil charges.

A man named John Doe states in his lawsuit that he auditioned for Combs in 2005 at the age of 10 in a New York hotel. He was given a soda by Combs that he claims was laced with drugs. According to the lawsuit, Combs then forced Doe to perform oral sex after he resisted. Doe lost consciousness and later woke up in tears with his pants undone and pain in his anus and buttocks, the lawsuit said.

The other John Doe claims in a separate lawsuit that he was 17 in or around 2008 when he attended a three-day audition for the MTV competition series “Making the Band.” Doe claims that on the first day of the audition, during a one-on-one interview, Combs asked “hypothetical questions to the accuser about handling situations involving sexual pressure.”

“As Combs described these scenarios, he began to sexually assault Plaintiff by touching Plaintiff both above and under his clothing, including groping and fondling his penis and instructing Plaintiff to undress,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges that Combs emphasized his power to control Doe’s future in the music industry, stating he had the ability to “make or break” his career.

On the second day of auditions, Combs allegedly told 17-year-old Doe to strip naked “to demonstrate his ability to embody a ‘sex idol’ persona.” “This encounter ultimately escalated to Combs forcing the plaintiff to perform oral sex on him, and Combs sodomizing the plaintiff,” the lawsuit said.

The next day, the complaint states, Combs and his bodyguard sexually assaulted Doe. He was subsequently eliminated from the competition “because Combs alleged that Plaintiff was unreliable due to his reservations about performing oral sex on his bodyguard,” according to the lawsuit.

When asked for comment by CNN, Combs’ attorneys did not respond to the specific allegations in the two new lawsuits, but denied that Combs ever sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone.

“As we have said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are ridiculous or demonstrably false on their face,” Combs’ attorneys said in part in a statement. “Sir. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the legal process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually abused or trafficked anyone – male or female, adult or minor.”

The two new lawsuits were filed in New York state court on Monday. Both accusers are represented by attorneys Tony Buzbee and co-counsel Andrew Van Arsdale, who said earlier this month that they represent more than 120 alleged victims who plan to go public with their claims against Combs.

Since November 2023, more than two dozen civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs alleging sexual assault or misconduct. The first lawsuit, filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, was settled the next day. The other cases remain active. Combs has denied the civil allegations.

Federal prosecutors have accused Combs of orchestrating a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire that included sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping and decades of physical abuse of women. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The criminal trial against Combs is tentatively scheduled to begin in May 2025.

Prosecutors have said their criminal investigation is ongoing and additional charges or suspects could be added to a possible superseding indictment.

CNN’s Sarah Moon contributed to this story.