Sean Combs Moves To Dismiss $30 Million Assault Lawsuit Filed By ‘Lil Rod’ Jones

Sean “Diddy” Combs has sought to have a civil lawsuit filed against him by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones dismissed. 

Jones, a former producer and videographer, has accused the music mogul of sexual assault, sexual harassment and drugging.

In Jones’ lawsuit, which was filed in February 2024, he claims that he worked with Combs on the album Love during 2022 and 2023. Among his allegations, Jones states that Combs failed to compensate him for his work, coerced him into engaging with sex workers, threatened him and served guests at parties with alcoholic drinks that were allegedly laced with drugs. Jones is seeking $30 million in damages.

On August 26, Combs filed a motion in federal court in the Southern District of New York to dismiss the case, and asserted that Jones’s lawsuit was intended to “generate media hype and exploit it for a settlement.” Combs describes Jones’s allegations as filled with “legally meaningless claims and blatant falsehoods” and argues that the lawsuit lacks any credible basis for legal action.

In addition to denying the claims, Combs has pointed out that Jones has not substantiated severe accusations, such as those related to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). He argues that Jones’s allegations of threats and coercion lack evidence and that the specifics of any alleged sexual assault are not clearly stated. The lawsuit reads, “Jones fails to plead the most basic facts, such as where and when any purported instance of assault occurred or what allegedly transpired.”

Combs’s attorney, Erica Wolff, stated that Jones’s claims are fabricated: “There was no RICO conspiracy, and Mr. Jones was not threatened, groomed, assaulted or trafficked.” Wolff expressed confidence in disproving Jones’s allegations in court.

Jones has publicly discussed the repercussions of the lawsuit and claimed it has led to threats against him and has hindered his career opportunities in the music industry. In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Jones mentioned he felt “blackballed” and expressed deep emotional distress, stating that music has been his lifeline.

This lawsuit is part of a broader pattern, as Jones’ complaint marks one of nine lawsuits filed against Combs since last November, and eight directly allege sexual assault. One notable case, brought by former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, has been settled, while other accusations have involved Combs’s son, Christian Combs. 

A video of Combs beating Ventura was released earlier this year.