Inside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs abuse allegations: Full timeline of events as American rapper is arrested after grand jury indictment

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ week seemed off to a good start. 

He spent Monday morning relaxing on the turf in New York’s Central Park before meeting up with his son Christian to wander the streets of Manhattan.

Adoring fans ran up to snap selfies and shake the hand of their idol, who flashed a prized smile from behind a pair of thick superstar sunglasses as he revelled in the attention. 

But Diddy’s big day out in the Big Apple was brought to an abrupt end when Homeland Security officers busted into his Manhattan hotel room and took him into custody late last night. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Combs, 54, was apprehended in connection with a Southern District of New York-issued sealed indictment – but federal officials said they will ask a judge to unseal the indictment today. 

The major move comes 10 months after allegations of sexual and other abuse against the music mogul, and an announcement from prosecutors that he was being investigated for sex trafficking.

Here is a look at the key events that have unfolded since late last year.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 45, was pictured hours before his arrest on a walk in midtown Manhattan with his son Christian Combs, 26

Prior to being taken into custody following an indictment from a grand jury, Combs smiled and posed for selfies with fans, seemingly unaware of the looming legal woes coming later in the evening 

The rapper, 54, appeared relaxed, sitting on a knoll while park goers meandered in the sun, seemingly unbothered by the swirling controversy

November 16, 2023

Cassie says in a lawsuit that Combs subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. 

Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, signed to Combs’ label in 2005, and the two were on-again-off-again romantic partners for more than a decade starting in 2007. 

The lawsuit filed in federal court says Combs was ‘prone to uncontrollable rage’ and subjected her to ‘savage’ beatings. 

It says he plied her with drugs, forced her to have sex with other men, and raped her in her home as she was trying to end the relationship in 2018. 

Combs, through his attorney, ‘vehemently denies’ the accusations.

November 17, 2023

With staggering speed, Ventura’s lawsuit is settled the day after it is filed. 

The terms of the agreement are kept confidential.

‘We have decided to resolve this matter amicably,’ Combs says in a statement. ‘I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.’

Cassie Ventura (L) and Sean Combs attend the ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’ Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City

Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, signed to Combs’ label in 2005, and the two were on-again-off-again romantic partners for more than a decade starting in 2007

November 23, 2023

Two more women accuse Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits filed on the eve of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law permitting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action regardless of the statute of limitations. 

The lawsuits, filed by Joi Dickerson and another woman who was not named, allege acts of sexual assault, beatings and forced drugging in the early 1990s by Combs, then a talent director, party promoter and rising figure in New York City’s hip-hop community. 

Combs’ attorneys call the allegations false.

November 28, 2023

Combs temporarily steps down as chairman of his cable television network, Revolt, because of the wave of sexual abuse allegations. 

It would be one of several business setbacks for Combs brought on by the lawsuits.

December 6, 2023

A woman alleges in another lawsuit that in 2003 when she was 17, Combs and two other men raped her. 

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan says she was living in a Detroit suburb and was flown to a New York studio, where she was given drugs and alcohol that made her incapable of consenting to sex, and the men took turns raping her.

The same day, Combs posts a statement on Instagram broadly denying all the allegations in the mounting series of lawsuits. 

‘I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,’ the post says. 

‘I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.’

Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs, Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston perform at the Help for Haiti benefit concert and telethon at AmericanAirlines Arena on February 5, 2010 in Miami, Florida

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is one of America’s most famous rappers, record producer and record executives

February 26, 2024

A music producer files a lawsuit alleging Combs sexually assaulted him and forced him to have sex with prostitutes.

The lawsuit gives a long list of potentially illegal activities dealing with drugs and sex that the producer says he witnessed.

A lawyer for Combs calls the allegations ‘pure fiction.’

March 25, 2024

Homeland Security Investigations serves search warrants in early morning raids on Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami in what officials declare is a sex-trafficking investigation. 

Combs was at one of his homes in Miami at the time. His two sons, at his home in Los Angeles, were handcuffed during the search, Combs’ attorneys said. 

Officials did not say whether the raids were prompted by the civil lawsuits, but Combs’ attorneys said they believed they were.

March 26, 2024

Combs’ lawyer calls the raids ‘a gross use of military-level force’ and says Combs is ‘innocent and will continue to fight’ to clear his name. 

The attorney, Aaron Dyer, says there is ‘no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.’

Properties connected to rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs were raided in March by federal agents

A picture from inside Diddy’s Miami home shows how law enforcement agents conducted thorough searches

These aerial images taken in October 19, 2023, show the sprawling waterfront properties owned by the embattled rap mogul, real name Sean Combs, that were raided by federal agents

Homeland Security Investigations serves search warrants in early morning raids on Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami

April 4, 2024

A lawsuit that names Combs as a co-defendant alleges that his son Christian ‘King’ Combs sexually assaulted a woman working on a yacht chartered by his father. 

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court says Sean Combs created the circumstances that led to the assault and paid to cover it up afterward. 

An attorney for the two men calls the allegations ‘outrageous.’

April 26, 2024

In the first major piece of legal pushback from Combs and his team, they file a motion to dismiss several elements of Dickerson’s lawsuit because they were not illegal in 1991 when the alleged incidents occurred. 

While the legal objections are procedural, the filing also slams the ‘numerous false, offensive, and salacious accusations’ in the lawsuit.

May 10, 2024

Combs asks a federal judge to dismiss the Dec. 6 lawsuit that alleged he and two co-defendants raped a 17-year-old girl from Michigan in a New York recording studio. 

Again, the objections are procedural – alleging the lawsuit was filed too late under the law – but the court document calls its claims ‘false and hideous.’

May 17, 2024

CNN airs video that shows Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016. 

The video closely mirrors an assault described in her lawsuit, which said Combs had already punched her that night, and she was trying to leave the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles when he woke and came after her. 

In the footage, a man who appears to be Diddy, wearing only a towel, punches Ventura, kicks her, and throws her on to the floor. 

The lawsuit alleges Combs paid $50,000 to take away the video at the time. Combs’ representatives had no immediate comment.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office says it cannot prosecute Combs for the attack shown in the video due to statute of limitation, noting that no case had been presented to prosecutors.

CNN in May aired a leaked video that shows Combs attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016

This frame grab taken from hotel security camera video and aired by CNN shows Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in March 2016

Diddy, wearing only a towel, punches Ventura, kicks her, and throws her on to the floor

May 19, 2024

Combs posts a video on Instagram and Facebook apologizing for the assault on Ventura. 

It’s his first real acknowledgement of wrongdoing since the recent stream of allegations began.

‘My behavior on that video is inexcusable,’ Combs says, adding that he had hit ‘rock bottom’. 

‘I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now. 

‘I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.’

June 10, 2024

At the request of New York Mayor Eric Adams, Combs returns a key to the city.

Adams sent letters to Combs rescinding the honor as part of the fallout of the leak of the video of Combs beating Cassie. 

Adams says he was ‘deeply disturbed’ by the video. Adams awarded Combs with the key at a ceremony in 2023.

A day earlier, Howard University announced it had rescinded an honorary degree given to Combs and disbanded a scholarship program in his name.

On May 19, Combs posted a video on Instagram and Facebook apologizing for the assault on Ventura. That was his first real acknowledgement of wrongdoing since the recent stream of allegations began

At the request of New York Mayor Eric Adams, Combs in June returned a key to the city

August 26, 2024

As part of a multi-faceted pushback against the lawsuits filed against him, Combs asks a federal judge to throw out the February lawsuit from the music producer. 

His lawyers say the suit was overrun with ‘tall tales,’ ‘lurid theatrics,’ ‘legally meaningless allegations’ and ‘blatant falsehoods’ whose intent is only to ‘generate media hype and exploit it to extract a settlement.’

September 11, 2024

Diddy is sued by singer Dawn Richard in a case describing years of psychological and physical abuse, including groping, that she says she suffered as he helped launch her career. 

Richard, a member of the girl group Danity Kane and is well-known for appearing on the MTV reality show ‘Making the Band,’ alleges in the suit that she witnessed Combs abuse Cassie and was afraid of the mogul.

Diddy’s representatives accuse Richard of making ‘an attempt to rewrite history’ by manufacturing ‘a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day – conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour.’

Combs poses for a selfie between a pair of fans ahead of his arrest on September 16 

Authorities had planned on arresting Combs on Tuesday, ‘but something happened that caused’ federal officials to take him into custody earlier than planned, an official told the outlet 

September 16, 2024

Combs is arrested on a Monday night in New York after a grand jury indictment. No details on the charges were made public, but federal officials say they will ask a judge to unseal the indictment a day later. 

Combs’ attorney calls it an unjust prosecution of an ‘imperfect person’ who is ‘not a criminal.’

The rapper, clad in a long black coat over a black t-shirt with gray sweatpants and grey sneakers, was seen hours earlier flashing smiles and posing for selfies with several adoring fans as he wandered the streets of midtown Manhattan.

Christian, Combs’ 26-year-old son who performs under the moniker ‘King Combs’, was also seen walking with his father before his arrest. 

Earlier in the day, a video shared on social media showed Diddy flicking through his phone and enjoying the sunshine as he sat in Central Park, wearing a baggy black vest.