Rap singer Sean “Diddy” Combs, whose star has sunk following sex trafficking allegations and harassment lawsuits, was arrested by federal agents in Manhattan late Monday, a US federal court reported.
Southern District of New York Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that the arrest was based on a sealed indictment filed by his office.
“We hope to unseale the indictment by the morning and we will have more to say at that time,” he said, without giving further details about the charges.
Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in a statement to AFP that Combs had voluntarily moved to New York amid fears of charges.
Combs’ attorney said his team is “disappointed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s decision to pursue an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs.”
The rapper is the target of multiple civil lawsuits that paint him as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims.
His homes were raided by federal agents in March, a highly publicized bicoastal action that signaled that a federal investigation and possible criminal case against Combs was growing.
Armed agents entered his sprawling luxury properties in Miami and Los Angeles, capping the rapid downfall of the music industry strongman who in recent years had rushed to rebrand himself as “Brother Love.”
His legal team said Monday that Combs is “cooperating with this investigation” and “looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
bombshell suit
The artist, known by various names such as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, is largely credited with leading hip hop’s journey from the streets to the bottle-service clubs.
Over the past decades, he has amassed immense wealth due to his business in the liquor industry.
But despite his efforts to cultivate an image as a slick party kingpin and businessman, multiple lawsuits describe Combs as a violent man who used his fame to prey on women.
The artist has denied all the allegations against him.
There are no major cases registered against him, but he has been accused of physical abuse dating back to the 1990s.
Late last year, singer Cassie, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura, alleged that Combs coerced her through physical force and drugs for more than a decade and also raped her in 2018.
The two met when Ventura was 19 and he was 37, after which he signed her to his label and they began a romantic relationship.
The sensational suit was quickly settled out of court, but was followed by a number of similar sexual assault cases – including a claim in December from a woman who alleged Combs and others gang-raped her when she was 17.
A disturbing surveillance video surfaced in May showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Ventura, corroborating the allegations she made in the now-resolved case.
The dark shadow of global fame
Born November 4, 1969, in Harlem, Sean John Combs entered the industry in 1990 as an intern at Uptown Records, where he eventually became a talent director.
She earned a reputation as a party planner, which became central to her brand as her fame grew.
In 1991 he promoted a celebrity basketball game and concert at the City College of New York, after which nine people died following a stampede.
The event was attended by thousands more people than capacity, leading to several lawsuits accusing Combs of inadequate security.
He was fired from Uptown and founded his own label, Bad Boy Records.
Thus began his quick ascent to the top of East Coast hip hop, alongside his disciple, the late The Notorious B.I.G.
Combs boasted numerous major signed acts and production collaborations with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey, and Boyz II Men.
He was also a Grammy-winning rapper himself, breaking out with the chart-topping single “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” and his album “No Way Out.”
He cultivated an image as a brash conman with a strong will, a prominent producer who also ventured into Hollywood, reality television, and fashion, and had romantic relationships with actresses such as Jennifer Lopez.
But a dark history of violence and serious misconduct has long overshadowed his fame – and now it appears to be eclipsing his fame.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)