Diddy’s former Making the Band singer, Sara Rivers, has filed a lawsuit against him, alleging mistreatment during her time on the MTV reality series.
In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Rivers claims that the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy subjected her to various forms of abuse, which were broadcast to millions.
The suit, filed by attorney Ariel Mitchell, highlights the infamous "cheesecake" incident from Making the Band 2, in which Rivers and her group, Da Band, were forced to walk several blocks to get Diddy a dessert. She alleges that this was just one of many instances of mistreatment.
Rivers also claims she was forced to sleep in an open bay with four male bandmates despite being married at the time, and that she was threatened with expulsion if she did not comply.
The lawsuit names MTV, Viacom, and several former Bad Boy employees, including Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, and his former assistant, Fonzworth Bentley.
She further alleges that Diddy acted maliciously toward her career, publicly dismantling Da Band while keeping most of her earnings from the show. Additionally, Rivers claims Diddy sexually harassed and assaulted her, alleging that he once backed her into a corner, blocked her from moving, and ran his hand across her breasts.
Diddy’s legal team has denied the claims, stating to TMZ: “This is yet another example of false claims being filed against Mr. Combs. No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. With the deadline for New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act expiring tomorrow, it’s clear that opportunists are rushing to file last-minute, meritless claims. Mr. Combs remains confident he will prevail in court.”
