Diddy is facing a new legal battle as his longtime stylist, Deonte Nash, has filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery, human trafficking, and a decade of abuse.
According to newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, Nash alleges that becoming a celebrity stylist turned into a “nightmare” during his nearly 10 years working for Diddy. The lawsuit claims that Nash endured “a decade of sexual and physical assault, sexual and verbal harassment, trafficking, degradation and humiliation, threats to his life and well-being, stalking, control, and psychological manipulation.”
Nash’s legal team detailed several incidents, including one at a party in 2013 or 2014 where Diddy allegedly exposed himself to Nash in front of other employees. The lawsuit also accuses Diddy of groping Nash without consent on multiple occasions and subjecting him to “unwanted, inappropriate, sexually charged” comments about his sexuality, often in front of colleagues and friends. These alleged remarks left Nash feeling objectified and humiliated, his attorneys said.
The lawsuit further claims that Diddy was physically violent toward Nash, at times warning him that his life was only spared because Diddy allowed it. Lawyers argue that the music mogul wielded his power, status, and threats of harm to keep Nash under his control. Even after Nash left his employment, the lawsuit alleges he continued to receive threats and still fears for his safety.
Nash is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in the civil case and has requested a jury trial. Diddy's lawyer Erica Wolff responded to the lawsuit, saying Nash is "another opportunist looking to profit off his proximity to celebrity" and added that the complaint is "riddled with falsehoods and stands in stark contrast to the record that has already been established in court."
"Mr. Combs has dedicated his life and career to uplifting artists, creating opportunities, and building one of the most influential cultural enterprises in the world," Wolff told TMZ in a statement. "Mr. Nash’s tabloid-style accusations are insulting not only to Mr. Combs, but also to the countless individuals who worked honorably and professionally within his companies."
She adds, "In court, the truth will prevail, as it did in his criminal trial: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone—adult or minor, man or woman. Mr. Combs looks forward to clearing his name again in a court of law where truth matters.”
Nash previously testified during Diddy’s criminal trial. At the time, when asked by Diddy’s attorney if he was planning to file a civil lawsuit, Nash responded that he was focused on “getting out of here.” He admitted he had retained legal counsel, but he said, only to “protect” himself.