THE ENDING OF A LAW GOVERNING HISTORIC ABUSE HAS SEEN A RASH OF LAWSUITS AGAINST FAMOUS FACES
In late November, music mogul Sean Combs made headlines when former partner Cassie Ventura filed alawsuit against him. It saw the rapper, 54, accused of –among other complaints –sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual battery and sexual assault, and related to a relationship that began when Cassie, now 37, was 19 years old.
The suit alleged that, after the young singer signed with Combs’ label Bad Boy Records in 2006, he began exerting control over her, which spiralled when they later began aromantic relationship. It claimed Cassie was subjected to “over adecade of violent behaviour and disturbed demands”, adding, “[She was] trapped in acycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking.” It reportedly alleged that Cassie was physically assaulted, forced to engage in sex acts with male sex workers and made to carry agun in her bag. It was further alleged that the relationship ended in 2018, when Combs raped Cassie after forcing his way into her home. Combs vehemently denied the allegations and the action was settled out of court, with Combs’ lawyer stating, “A decision to settle alawsuit is in no way an admission of wrongdoing.”
Days later, two more lawsuits were filed against the star. US magazine Rolling Stone reported that one complainant has accused Combs of sexual assault and creating revenge porn, and the other of alleged rape and assault. At time of press, athird woman had filed against Combs, ex-BadBoyEntertainmentpresident Harve Pierre and an unnamed man. Named only as Jane Doe, the woman claims the men gang raped her at arecording studio when she was 17 years old. All deny the claims. In astatement to People, Combs said, “For the last couple of weeks, Ihave sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” adding, “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for aquick pay day. Let me be clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. Iwill fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
WHY NOW?
All three suits were filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which – for aone-year period –had allowed adult victims of sexual abuse to sue decades after an alleged crime was committed. Prior to that, the statute of limitations meant survivors had only a narrow window to press criminal charges or bring acivil lawsuit. The law was brought in on 24 November 2022andexpiredon23November 2023, during which time thousands of actions were brought, and Combs was far from the only celebrity accused of historic abuse before the deadline.
Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, 61, was sued by Sheila
