Lampros claims that, in or around 1998, she “found the courage to end her relationship with Mr. Combs.” She reencountered Diddy in 2000 or 2001, however, and the musician “began apologizing for his past behaviors; he started telling her that he was a changed man,” the lawsuit states. “He then showered her with compliments, telling her how good she looked and kept reminiscing about their prior sex life. He then began dropping hints about them having sex. Ms. Lampros rejected his advances.” The fourth alleged assault occurred after Diddy’s apparent apology when he “violently grabbed [Lampros] and forced himself onto her. He began kissing her and touching her against her will.”
Formally, April Lampros is suing Diddy for battery, assault and sexual assault, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and a violation of New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.
Pitchfork has reached out to Lampros’ attorney and representatives for Diddy for comment.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sued several times since last year for alleged sexual assault. The first major lawsuit came from his former girlfriend Cassie, who accused Diddy of physical and sexual assault. The lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, with Diddy’s lawyer saying, “Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.”
More recently, CNN released hotel surveillance footage that showed Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in 2016. Diddy posted an apology video, and Cassie, in a rare public statement, thanked people for their support of her. “Thank you to everyone that has taken time to take this matter seriously,” she wrote. “My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”
As for active litigation, Diddy is being sued by Joi Dickerson-Neal (who accuses the producer of assault, battery, sex trafficking, and more), Liza Gardner (who claims that Diddy and R&B singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her and a friend in the early 1990s), a Jane Doe (who says that Diddy, former Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre, and an unnamed third person “sex trafficked and gang raped” her in 2003 when she was a 17-year-old high school student), the music producer Rodney Jones Jr. (who alleges that Diddy sexually assaulted and groomed him), and former model Crystal McKinney (who, just this week, sued Diddy for sexual assault).
Along with the civil lawsuits, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) raided Diddy’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation.
Diddy has denied allegations of sexual assault, stating, in December, “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
http://rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
