Sean “Diddy” Combs has filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Courtney Burgess, Burgess’s attorney Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar Media Inc., the parent company of NewsNation. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of fabricating and amplifying false allegations of sexual misconduct against Combs, causing significant harm to his reputation, career, and right to a fair trial.
The complaint, filed by Combs through his legal team at Sher Tremonte LLP, asserts that Burgess falsely claimed to possess videos allegedly showing Combs engaged in heinous acts, including sexual misconduct with celebrities and minors. According to the lawsuit, Burgess promoted these baseless claims during interviews and on social media platforms, gaining attention and fame at Combs’s expense.
Attorney Ariel Mitchell, described in the lawsuit as a civil litigator who has pursued high-profile cases against celebrities, is accused of knowingly amplifying Burgess’s false claims. Mitchell allegedly repeated Burgess’s allegations in media interviews, claiming to have corroborating evidence, despite being aware that no such evidence existed.
NewsNation is accused of broadcasting these unverified claims without conducting proper due diligence. The lawsuit states that the media outlet failed to reach out to Combs’s representatives for comment and recklessly aired false and defamatory statements, further damaging Combs’s reputation.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is taking a stand against the malicious falsehoods that have been fabricated and amplified by individuals seeking to profit at his expense,” said Erica Wolff, Combs’s attorney at Sher Tremonte LLP.
“These defendants have willfully fabricated and disseminated outrageous lies with reckless disregard for the truth. Their falsehoods have poisoned public perception and contaminated the jury pool. This complaint should serve as a warning that such intentional falsehoods, which undermine Mr. Combs’s right to a fair trial, will no longer be tolerated.”
The lawsuit seeks $50 million in damages, including punitive damages, to hold the defendants accountable for their actions. Combs’s legal team asserts that the fabricated allegations have not only caused profound reputational and economic harm but have also jeopardized his ability to receive a fair trial in an upcoming federal case.
