Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a lawsuit for defamation Nexstar Media Inc. (NewsNation), Courtney Burgess and attorney Ariel Mitchell were sued Wednesday in New York federal court, according to documents obtained by FOX News Digital.
According to the complaint, Diddy claims that the defendants have “fueled a media frenzy and made outlandish claims about him for months over an alleged sex tape involving the disgraced music mogul and other celebrities.” “He fabricated the story and fueled baseless speculation.”
He is seeking $50 million in damages.
“In this pitiful spectacle, all pretense of objectivity is abandoned as audiences around the world enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet of wild lies and conspiracy theories,” the document said.
“The defendants are among the worst perpetrators in this aggressive scenario. They eagerly courted and broadcast blatant falsehoods at every opportunity, with evidence that Mr. Combs had engaged in heinous acts. We are pretending that there is, but we are learning that no such evidence exists.”
“Sean 'Diddy' Combs is the victim of a malicious conspiracy fabricated and amplified by individuals seeking to profit at his expense,” Diddy's attorney Erica Wolfe said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “We are taking a firm stand against certain falsehoods.”
“These defendants intentionally fabricated and spread outrageous lies with reckless disregard for the truth. Their lies damaged public perception and tainted the jury pool.” This should serve as a warning that such deliberate falsehoods that undermine his right to a fair trial will no longer be tolerated.”
Diddy's lawyers argued that Burgess “falsely claimed to possess videos of Mr. Combs engaging in sexual assaults of celebrities and minors.”
They said Burgess, who was subpoenaed by federal prosecutors to testify before a grand jury, “repeated this false allegation over and over again to anyone who would listen, including reporters from major news outlets (including NewsNation).” , recklessly repeated and amplified his lies.” (as if it were true),” the complaint states.
Mitchell, Burgess' attorney, “knew that his client's allegations were false, or at least knew that it would be completely reckless to ignore the falsehoods,” the document states.
“No such tape existed, and Mitchell had never seen any video depicting Mr. Combs sexually abusing anyone, whether an adult or a minor. Mitchell's numerous false claims of possessing the videos were either intentional blatant falsehoods or recklessly false statements made as a direct result of Burgess' It is inexcusable that they did not investigate this outrageous lie. ”
A representative for Burgess did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
In a federal indictment unsealed on September 17, Diddy was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Authorities alleged that Diddy operated a criminal enterprise through businesses including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global.
He used “firearms, threats of violence, coercion, and verbal, mental, physical, and sexual abuse” to satisfy his sexual desires, according to an unsealed indictment obtained by Fox News Digital. .
Judge Arun Subramanian had scheduled Combs' trial to begin on May 5.
Prosecutors expect the government's case to take three weeks to develop, while Combs' legal team estimates it will take a week to defend the rapper.
The “Last Night” singer has maintained his innocence, but if found guilty he could face a minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison.
