Joseph Sherman, the former bodyguard of Sean “Diddy” Combs, is fighting back against allegations that he and Diddy sexually assaulted a woman over 20 years ago. In a defamation lawsuit filed on November 7, Sherman is taking aim at his accuser, Thalia Graves, and her legal team, which includes high-profile attorney Gloria Allred. Sherman’s lawsuit asserts that the claims are fabricated and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
According to the lawsuit, Graves’s accusations are “outrageous, disgusting, and life-altering statements” that, Sherman contends, were made “without any regard for the truth.” Graves initially made these allegations in September, naming both Sherman and Diddy as perpetrators in an alleged assault she says took place in 2001. However, Sherman maintains that he couldn’t have been involved in any alleged events from that time, as he stopped working for Diddy in 1999 after leaving Bad Boy Records to work for rival label Def Jam. Sherman also claims that he was barred from entering Bad Boy’s studios after his departure.
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“Joseph Sherman has never met Thalia Graves, let alone raped her,” the lawsuit states, emphasizing that he had no connection to Diddy or Bad Boy Records by 2001. The lawsuit also includes details of purported Instagram direct messages from Graves to Sherman, where she allegedly suggested that if Sherman would support her claims against Diddy, he would be protected from further allegations.
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Graves’s suit also includes allegations that Sherman and Diddy had shared a video of the assault with Graves’s ex-boyfriend and had reportedly made a habit of distributing such footage. Sherman’s lawsuit refutes this claim, asserting that Graves is leveraging baseless accusations to support her legal efforts.
In an Instagram post following the filing, Sherman shared a video with the caption, “Let the war begin. I want $100 million. My first lawsuit, two more coming.” He has indicated that additional legal action may follow, including lawsuits against bloggers and others he claims have defamed him without consequences.
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As the case unfolds, Sherman’s legal battle marks a strong pushback against the serious allegations against him. Both sides remain firm in their stances, and this defamation suit promises to add another complex layer to the public and legal scrutiny around these allegations.
