Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:00Throughout his career, Sean Combs has tried to cultivate his image as an unapologetic
00:06rapper, a smooth party planner, or as a fashion-forward businessman, but they're images that are
00:12becoming harder to defend.
00:15Combs, known professionally as P. Diddy, was arrested by federal agents in Manhattan on
00:20Monday.
00:21His lawyer said he'd been cooperating with the investigation and had relocated to New
00:25York last week in anticipation of charges.
00:29We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution
00:33of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
00:37Details of the charges were not immediately made public, but the 54-year-old is facing
00:42a string of civil lawsuits.
00:44It follows raids on his homes in L.A. and Miami in March, which indicated a criminal
00:49case was mounting.
00:51The first suit was filed in November last year by singer Cassie, whose real name is
00:56Cassandra Ventura.
00:58She alleged Combs, who she dated between 2007 and 2018, subjected her to more than
01:04a decade of abuse, violence and trafficking, and raped her in 2018.
01:09The case was settled a day later out of court, but it opened a floodgate of other lawsuits
01:15with allegations dating back to the early 90s.
01:18One filed by a woman in December alleges that he and others gang-raped her when she was
01:2317.
01:25In a statement by his lawyer, the artist denied what he called a series of false claims.
01:31As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs became an influential figure in American hip-hop.
01:37Along with the notorious B.I.G., he collaborated with a host of top artists, including Mary
01:43J. Blige, Usher and Lil' Kim.