Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is being sued by his former business partner. The lawsuit comes amid a growing number of legal challenges facing the music mogul in recent months.
The 55-year-old rapper – who is currently in jail awaiting trial awaiting trial over charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution – has been accused by Kirk Burrowes, his Bad Boy Entertainment co-founder, of creating a highly toxic and manipulative working environment filled with sexual harassment, aggression and “forced compliance with degrading sexual acts.” These allegations add to mounting legal troubles that have shaken the entertainment industry.
“In an 18-page complaint obtained by Rolling Stone magazine, Kirk accused the ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ hitmaker of having subjected him to unwanted sexual advances, acts of sexual exhibitionism including nudity, and sexual assault during their time launching the label and alleged it escalated into physical violence, blackmail and extortion.” The case has already drawn significant attention from media outlets across the country.
The businessman accused his former pal of frequently groping his crotch and buttocks and forcing him into situations where he had to watch the rapper “engaging in sexual acts with employees, interns, prospective artists, and third parties” at their Manhattan office. The lawsuit details incidents spanning several years during their professional relationship.
He claimed he’d be summoned on the office intercom for a specific reason, only to then walk in on Diddy receiving sexual favors, which he felt was designed to break him down and establish his submission. Experts in workplace harassment note that such power dynamics can create lasting psychological trauma for victims.
The lawsuit alleged that in 1995, the ‘It’s All About the Benjamins’ rapper physically restrained Kirk in an apartment “preventing him from leaving by removing his keys, pinning him down onto a bed, and simulating intercourse until he ejaculated” and during a business trip that same year, the musician allegedly arranged a meeting in his suite, only to greet his business partner in the nude and “demand that he watch as he masturbated”. These claims represent some of the most serious allegations in the filing.
According to the complainant, the alleged abuse and intimidation ended in 1996 when Diddy allegedly burst into his office with a baseball bat and forced him to sign over his 25% stake in Bad Boy Entertainment “or face violent repercussions”. The incident reportedly marked a turning point in their business relationship.
He also alleged the rapper later sabotaged his career. This claim suggests potential violations of business ethics and possibly anticompetitive behavior in the music industry.
“In 2006, multiple sources informed plaintiff that Combs had used his influence to ensure that no major record labels or management firms would hire him, forcing plaintiff into economic instability,” the lawsuit stated. Industry insiders have noted that such blacklisting practices, if proven, could constitute serious professional misconduct.
Kirk previously sued Diddy in 2023 over the baseball bat incident but his claims were dismissed as beyond the statute of limitations. Legal experts point out that such technical dismissals don’t necessarily address the merits of the underlying claims.
He filed his new lawsuit citing the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act, which in 2022 created a two-year lookback window allowing people to bring civil lawsuits even if their claims had exceeded the seven-year statute of limitations. The window was set to close on Saturday (01.03.25), and many lawsuits were filed against Diddy in that time, with over a dozen submitted on Friday (28.02.25). This legislative change has opened the door for numerous historical claims across various industries.
Diddy‘s legal team have denied the allegations. Their response follows a pattern of categorical denials to the multiple lawsuits filed in recent months.
“This latest lawsuit filed by Kirk Burrowes, filed by none other than Tyrone Blackburn, is another frivolous attempt to re-litigate claims that have been repeatedly thrown out of court over the past 30 years,” they said in a statement. “Despite repeated dismissals, Burrowes and Blackburn are intent on wasting the court’s time and resources by refiling dismissed claims.” Legal analysts note that such aggressive defense strategies are common in high-profile cases.
The case is expected to proceed through preliminary hearings in the coming months, adding to the mounting legal challenges facing the embattled music mogul as he remains in federal custody awaiting trial on separate criminal charges.
