Trigger Warning: This article includes discussion of alleged sexual assault, with details.
After Dawn Richard’s lawsuit accusing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of emotional abuse and manipulation was dismissed on June 15, the 42-year-old singer now plans to refile her primary claim. The update comes over a year after Richard filed her civil case against Combs in September 2024.
Dawn Richard will refile under the gender-motivated violence act after most of her claims were dismissed
According to Rolling Stone, in a 55-page complaint, the singer alleged that the rapper insisted on holding meetings in his underwear; groped her on multiple occasions, confined her in a locked car for two hours as a form of punishment, and threatened her life.
In a June 12 ruling, Judge Katherine Polk Failla dismissed 17 of the 18 claims in the lawsuit against the 56-year-old rapper, reports OK! Magazine. Richard, a former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money, cannot refile the dismissed claims in the same court.
However, one of her claims alleging a violation of New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law was dismissed without prejudice, allowing her to refile it in state court. Richard’s attorney, Arick Fudali, said, as quoted by the People, “We are encouraged and look forward to pursuing our primary claim filed under the gender motivated violence act in State Court in NYC, per the judge’s decision. We intend to continue to fight for Dawn until justice is achieved.”
Juda Engelmayer, Combs’ representative, said, “In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a payday — uniquely timed to coincide with her album release and press tour. If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album in 2023. “
Diddy is currently serving a 50-month federal prison sentence after facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He is set for release on February 23, 2028. This is the fourth time his release date has been revised. According to Fox 11, his release date was listed as April 15, 2028, after being moved up from April 25, 2028. His initial release date was June 4, 2028.
Have you or someone you love been sexually assaulted or abused? You are not alone. Contact RAINN 24/7 to connect with a real, live person who’s trained to help. https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/.
