Sean “Diddy” Combs’s accuser in the alleged 1990 sexual assault incident in which singer Aaron Hall is also implicated has made a key amendment to her original complaint.
On Tuesday, March 12, Lisa Gardner updated her suit in New York County Supreme Court and now alleges she was 16-years-old at the time of the assault and not 17-years-old, which at the time was the legal age of consent in New York. Gardner’s new filing could add a statutory rape charge to the case.
Gardner alleges that she was raped consecutively by Combs and Hall after their meeting her and a friend at a record company party in 1990. Originally said to have been “coerced” into sex with Diddy, the updated suit now says she was “physically forced into having sex with Combs against her will” — and that as a minor she wasn’t able to consent to the liquor provided by Combs and Hall.
“At the time Combs assaulted Ms. Gardner, she recalls feeling the side effects of the alcohol,” reads the complaint. “She recalls Combs mounting her, and forcing up her skirt, pulling her underwear to the side and forcefully penetrating her.”
Both versions of the complaint claim that after being assaulted by Combs, while she attempted to get dressed, Hall “barged into the room, pinned her down and forced” her to have sex with him. Gardner also claims that Combs acted violently towards her days after the alleged assault and at one point choked her until she lost consciousness.
While yet to comment on Gardner’s lawsuit amendment, in November on her original lawsuit, Diddy’s legal team issued a statement categorically denying the explosive accusations.
“These are fabricated claims falsely alleging misconduct from over 30 years ago and filed at the last minute. This is nothing but a money grab,” read the statement in part. “Because of Mr. Combs’ fame and success, he is an easy target for anonymous accusers who lie without conscience or consequence for financial benefit “The New York Legislature surely did not intend or expect the Adult Survivors Act to be exploited by scammers. The public should be skeptical and not rush to accept these bogus allegations.”
