The legal battle surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs intensified this week as Courtney Burgess, a witness in the federal case against the music mogul, pushed back against a cease-and-desist order issued by Combs' sons, Christian Combs and Quincy Brown. The order concerns Burgess' promotion of a tell-all book allegedly based on the late Kim Porter's writings.
The sons claim Burgess is attempting to exploit their mother's legacy by selling a book titled Kim Porter Tell It All. They allege the book capitalizes on her fame and demands an accounting of any profits Burgess may have earned from its sale. In response, Burgess dismissed the cease-and-desist letter as a "desperate ploy" orchestrated by Diddy. According to TMZ, Burgess characterized the effort as "a pathetic attempt" that reflects "just how dire the financial situation is" for Diddy and his family.
Burgess' attorney, Ariel Mitchell, addressed claims about how her client obtained the alleged manuscript. Mitchell told TMZ that Burgess and Porter met through a mutual acquaintance, a music producer, and that Porter promised to share her memoir with Burgess during a phone call. Mitchell maintains that this is how Burgess came to possess the manuscript and the alleged diary entries.
The controversy comes amid Burgess' involvement as a court witness in Diddy's ongoing federal case. Burgess has claimed that he possesses 11 flash drives containing explicit footage, including encounters involving eight celebrities, with "two to three" of the individuals allegedly being minors. Burgess also testified before a grand jury last month that the drives were shared with him by Porter, along with an unedited manuscript titled Kim's Lost Words: A Journey for Justice from the Other Side.
The manuscript reportedly includes allegations of physical abuse, sexual coercion, and other violent acts by Diddy against Porter, the mother of four of his children. Sales of the book briefly surged following Diddy's September arrest but were later removed from Amazon.
Diddy, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, faces accusations including sex trafficking, racketeering, forced labor, and obstruction of justice. He has remained incarcerated as his previous bail requests have been denied. A third attempt, offering a $50 million bond and strict conditions for house arrest, is currently under review.
The defense has sought a gag order to prevent attorneys representing accusers from speaking publicly about the case. Mitchell has openly criticized the request, suggesting its purpose is to silence Burgess. Speaking on NewsNation's Banfield, Mitchell said, "I am confident in the federal court and the state of New York that they will keep Diddy under no bond."
Mitchell also addressed concerns about her own safety and that of her clients. "I keep two straps on me. And I have God protecting me," she said during the interview. She emphasized the risks involved if Diddy is granted bail, noting that "all of [her clients] are very apprehensive about their safety."
Christian and Quincy's legal actions aim to block the distribution of the alleged memoir and halt any financial gain from its contents. They claim the book exploits their mother's name and legacy, further complicating an already contentious legal landscape surrounding Diddy's case.
