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An official court docket update on Wednesday (March 13th) suggests that the sexual assault case against Sean “Diddy” Combs by producer Rodney Jones had reached a settlement — though it’s unclear if the settlement is moving forward.
The federal New York court’s docket update said that not only had the two parties reached a settlement, but that they appeared for a video conference on Wednesday and a draft of their agreement would be submitted by next week. That would follow a similarly-rapid settlement in an earlier Diddy sexual assault case involving Cassie.
Just one problem: according to a report by TMZ, none of this is true, and results from apparent clerical error. Indeed, that is now being reflected in the updated docket.
Before the issue was corrected, an indicator that things weren’t as they seemed stemmed from the fact that the judge listed on the docket for the case was not the same one who was assigned. But by Friday, March 15th, the court docket for the case had since been wiped of any mention of a settlement.
Rodney Jones, a producer on Diddy’s 2023 “Love” album, accuses the rapper and business mogul of sexual assault and harassment from September 2022 to November 2023. While working on the project and living and traveling alongside Diddy, Jones alleges that he was the victim of “constant unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching of his anus by Mr. Combs,” and that he and his adult son were made to procure sex workers for parties at Diddy’s behest.
Perhaps the most damning assertion is Jones’ claim that he has “hours” of video and audio of Combs and his staff “engaging in serious illegal activity,” including “providing laced alcoholic beverages to minors and sex workers.” Jones is suing for $30 million.
To date, the only sexual assault lawsuit against him in which Diddy has reached a settlement remains the one filed by his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura. That federal lawsuit was settled only a day after Cassie filed it, in which she accuses Diddy of abuse and rape over the course of their relationship. Diddy continues to deny all allegations against him.
