Disturbing new allegations have surfaced against Sean “Diddy” Combs and his bodyguard as a woman claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by the pair in 2001, saying that was recorded without and distributed her consent.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in New York federal court, Thalia Graves alleges she was 25 when she met Combs, now 54, through her boyfriend, who worked at his Bad Boy record label.
The claims come days after Combs was indicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
“The internal pain after being sexually assaulted has been incredibly deep and hard to put into words,” Graves said during a press conference on Tuesday. “It goes beyond just the physical harm caused during the assault. It’s a pain that reaches into the very core of who I am leaving emotional scars that may never fully heal.”
Graves says she became “lightheaded, dizzy and physically weak,” after accepting a glass of wine while in a car with Combs and Joseph Sherman, his bodyguard and head of security, around the summer of 2001.
When she woke up, Graves says she was in a Manhattan studio with her hands tied behind her back. The lawsuit alleges Combs entered the room and raped her, smashing her head into a pool table when she tried to resist.
Sherman also sexually assaulted her as she came in and out of consciousness, according to the suit.
Thalia Graves, an alleged victim of rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, listens as Attorney Gloria Allred holds a press conference, in Los Angeles on September 24, 2024.
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The complaint states Graves learned about the existence of a recording of the alleged assault in November 2023—around the same time Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit with bombshell allegations, including physical abuse and Combs forcing her to have sex with male sex workers while he filmed it.
Graves says that she continues to suffer emotional harm, including mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, and physical damage.
In a press conference held by Graves’ high-profile attorney Gloria Allred, she alleges Combs and another defendant “published and/or disseminated the videos without the plaintiff’s knowledge or consent on information and belief.”
When asked if the other person alleged to be in Graves’ video is a celebrity, Allred responded, “Not as far as I know.”
Attorney Gloria Allred and Thalia Graves hold a copy of a criminal complaint against Sean “Diddy” Combs during a press conference in Los Angeles on September 24.
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Thalia Graves Gives Emotional Statement
Through tears, Graves made the following statement at Tuesday’s press conference:
“Some of the hardest parts of this pain are the shame and guilt I have experienced that plays a negative part in my day-to-day ability to function properly. Being blamed, questioned and threatened has often made me feel worthless, isolated and sometimes responsible for what happened to me. My family issues made the pain even worse. I was already going through a divorce at the time of the assault and did not get the support I needed. I was also faced with disbelief and judgment.”
“This has put a strain on my selection of men in relationships where they become aggressive and abusive which has made me feel even more alone in my struggles. I go through spells of being so distant and withdrawn that it is sometimes hard to leave my house.”
Attorney Gloria Allred (L) listens to Thalia Graves, an alleged victim of Sean “Diddy” Combs, during a press conference in Los Angeles on September 24.
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“The trauma of the assault has taken a toll on my mental health. I have PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I am emotionally scarred. It has been hard for me to trust others, form healthy relationships, or feel safe in my own skin. Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts make my life feel like a constant struggle. I also suffer with physical problems, such as chronic pain, and sexual discomfort.”
“The violation I have experienced during the assault have had lasting effects on my body, causing ongoing health problems and complications. The combination of physical and emotional pain has created a cycle of suffering from which it is hard to break free.”
“I want to continue on this journey toward recovery and healing.”
“I am glad that he is locked up but that’s a temporary feeling of relief.”
Graves did not take any questions from reporters after delivering her statement.
Combs is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to https://www.rainn.org/
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