Sean “Diddy” Combs has escalated his legal battle by filing a $100 million USD defamation lawsuit against Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell, and NewsNation’s parent company, Nexstar.
This action intensifies a prior $50 million USD lawsuit, accusing the defendants of intentionally fabricating and disseminating false allegations about Combs for personal gain.
Central to the lawsuit are accusations made by Burgess and Mitchell in separate NewsNation interviews. Court documents indicate that Burgess, whom Combs asserts he has never met, alleged receiving flash drives containing videos showing the music mogul engaging in sexual assault involving celebrities and minors. Combs’ legal team categorically denies the existence of these tapes, arguing that the statements demonstrate a “reckless disregard for the truth.”
Initially filed for $50 million USD, the lawsuit was amended to demand $100 million USD in damages, citing the “severe reputational harm” resulting from the unfounded allegations. Combs’ attorneys claim these statements have fueled a “media frenzy” that tarnished his public image and compromised his ability to secure a fair judicial process.
In addition to defamation, the lawsuit claims the defendants engaged in a “willful scheme to fabricate and broadcast outrageous lies” to enrich themselves and gain social media fame. It further accuses NewsNation of irresponsibly amplifying these claims without conducting proper fact-checking.
Combs’ legal team asserts that the widespread dissemination of these baseless allegations has inflicted significant damage, both personally and professionally.
