Sean "Diddy" Combs and his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, are facing a new civil lawsuit from Clayton Howard-a male escort who claims he was drugged, exploited, and abused during a years-long sexual relationship with the pair. The filing, revealed days after Diddy was acquitted of federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, intensifies scrutiny on the music mogul's embattled private life as he remains the subject of more than 60 lawsuits.
According to the complaint filed by Howard, who also goes by the alias "Dave," he first met Diddy and Cassie in 2009 and was drawn into what he describes as a prolonged and degrading sexual arrangement that lasted nearly a decade. "Ventura was not merely a victim forced into sexual encounters with male escorts, but rather an active and engaged participant who willingly manipulated and exploited others," the lawsuit states.
Howard alleges that Diddy and Cassie repeatedly drugged him with powerful narcotics, including MDMA, in doses "three times stronger" than those Cassie herself used. He also claims to have suffered severe physical injuries, including "bruised and swollen" genitals, and emotional trauma from prolonged sessions of coerced masturbation. He said Cassie once aborted a pregnancy without his knowledge or consent, and also knowingly transmitted an STD to him.
Diddy "implied threats of violence," the lawsuit reads, "and once even threatened to pistol whip" Howard during a confrontation. He further characterizes the former couple's relationship as driven by "drug-fueled debauchery," describing them as "toxic individuals addicted to opiates and methamphetamines who had no regard for others or the law."
Howard is seeking compensation for emotional distress, medical costs, lost wages, and "loss of enjoyment of life." He is also promoting a forthcoming book titled Cassie: Victim or Co-Conspirator? to highlight what he describes as Ventura's "complicity" in orchestrating his abuse.
The allegations arrive amid a broader legal storm encircling Combs. Since his indictment in September, at least 66 lawsuits have been filed against him, ranging from sexual assault to human trafficking. Plaintiffs include anonymous accusers, former collaborators, and high-profile figures such as model Crystal McKinney and student April Lampos. One suit claims Combs raped a minor; another alleges drug-facilitated sexual assault on a college campus in the 1990s.
Despite the wave of accusations, Combs' legal team remains defiant. "What we have been saying about the civil cases since day one: they are all fabricated attempts to extort windfall payments from an innocent man," said Erica Wolff, the rapper's lead attorney, in a statement to The New York Times. "Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone."
"From the beginning, we have vigorously defended against the civil plaintiffs' made-up claims with full confidence that Mr. Combs would prevail in the criminal case, and he did," Wolff added. He "will not back down" and intends to fight each case to win "full vindication."
The fallout continues to complicate Combs' legal outlook. While federal prosecutors secured convictions on prostitution-related charges, they failed to convict on the more serious trafficking counts. Under current sentencing guidelines, Combs could face two to five years in prison. Legal experts say Howard's civil suit could reopen public and prosecutorial interest in Diddy's past conduct-even if the recent verdict favored the rapper.
