Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is responding to what he describes as baseless and damaging allegations by filing a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Courtney Burgess and Nexstar, the parent company of NewsNation, according to Variety.
The rapper claims that Burgess fabricated sensational stories about alleged sex tapes involving him and other celebrities, including accusations that some of the individuals involved were underage.
Combs asserts that these false allegations not only harm his reputation but also jeopardize his right to a fair trial as he faces federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Diddy’s lawsuit
Diddy’s lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, accuses both Courtney Burgess and the news outlet of spreading false information with reckless disregard for the truth.
Erica Wolff, Combs’ attorney, stated in a message shared with Variety, “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is taking a stand against the malicious falsehoods that have been fabricated and amplified by individuals seeking to profit at his expense.” The lawsuit further claims that these accusations have “poisoned public perception” and jeopardized Combs’s right to a fair trial. “This complaint should serve as a warning that such intentional falsehoods, which undermine Mr. Combs’s right to a fair trial, will no longer be tolerated.”
The lawsuit also outlines how Burgess’s allegations reached federal prosecutors, leading to a subpoena for Combs to testify before a grand jury in New York. Outside the courthouse, Burgess reinforced his claims, stating that U.S. Marshals had searched his residences as part of their investigation.
Diddy’s lawsuit against Burgess, Ariel Mitchell and NewsNation
One of the key points of the lawsuit highlights a statement from Burgess’s lawyer, Ariel Mitchell, who claimed to have evidence supporting the accusations, including police reports. However, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office quickly debunked this claim, stating that the allegations were “thoroughly investigated” and found to be “unfounded,” according to Hollywood Reporter.
Burgess had previously stated in interviews on NewsNation that he possessed videos showing Combs involved in sexual assaults, including those of minors. Combs argues that these baseless claims, broadcast by the network, have severely damaged his reputation and the ongoing legal case.
The lawsuit asserts, “Because no such tapes exist, and because Mitchell never saw any video depicting Mr. Combs sexually abusing anyone, adult or minor, Mitchell’s many false assertions that Burgess possessed such videos were either knowingly blatant falsehoods or recklessly false statements made as the direct result of Mitchell’s inexcusable failure to investigate her client’s outrageous lies.”
