Daybreak Richard arrives on the Latin American Music Awards on the Dolby Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Los Angeles.
Paul A. Hebert/Invision by way of AP
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Paul A. Hebert/Invision by way of AP
Former Danity Kane member Daybreak Richard has filed a lawsuit in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging the hip-hop mogul sexually assaulted her, disadvantaged her of meals and sleep and refused to pay her adequately.
Richard additionally says within the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a New York federal courtroom, that she witnessed Combs bodily abuse his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, on quite a few events, and noticed Combs and his associates participating in unlawful medicine and sexual acts with underage ladies.
“Over the a long time following his rise to fame, Mr. Combs’ star-studded, larger-than-life persona overshadowed his vicious mood and pervasive acts of violence directed in the direction of these in his inside circle – particularly, girls,” the grievance says.
Richard claims she was disadvantaged of meals and sleep
Richard turned related to Combs in 2004 after auditioning for season three of his MTV actuality present, Making the Band. Richard alleges throughout auditions he known as feminine contestants names, together with “fats,” “ugly” and ““bi***.”
Richard says in the course of the manufacturing of the present, and in subsequent years, she and her bandmates had been pressured to rehearse for as much as 48 hours with no relaxation or meals. Richard says she misplaced a considerable quantity of weight and commenced getting rashes from the microphone pack she wore on her again throughout filming.
In a single occasion, Richard was exercising on the seaside and vomited. As an alternative of MTV offering medical help, crews filmed the incident, in line with the grievance.
Richard says she was recognized in 2010 with anemia, a low white blood cell rely and arthralgia, or joint stiffness attributable to overuse, sprains and infections resembling rheumatic fever and chickenpox.
“Mr. Combs is shocked and upset by this lawsuit. In an try to rewrite historical past, Daybreak Richard has now manufactured a sequence of false claims all within the hopes of attempting to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide together with her album launch and press tour,” Combs’ lawyer Erica Wolff stated in a press release.
Richard says she was sexually assaulted, witnessed Combs abuse Ventura
Richard stated within the grievance that Combs would usually come into her dressing room unannounced. Whereas she was working with a stylist, he would contact her butt and round her breasts to sign the place the clothes ought to fall, in line with the lawsuit.
Combs additionally repeatedly requested her to strip all the way down to her underwear in rehearsals, smacked Richard on the butt and performed conferences in solely his underwear, the grievance alleges.
If Richard rebuffed Combs’ advances, he’d retaliate by leaving her off of songs and performances, in line with the grievance.
Danity Kane disbanded in 2009, however Richard continued working with Combs as a member of the newly shaped Diddy-Soiled Cash, a trio that included her, Combs and singer-songwriter Kalenna Harper.
Richard says she started fearing for her bodily security after she and Harper went to Combs’ residence in Los Angeles. Combs got here into the kitchen and commenced berating Ventura for not cooking his eggs accurately, and proceeded to throw the pan at her and drag her up the steps, the lawsuit claims.
The subsequent day Combs allegedly purchased Richard and Harper flowers and stated what they’d witnessed “was only a lover’s argument the place nobody was harm … if you happen to say something, there might be penalties.”
Ventura filed a lawsuit in opposition to Combs in November of final 12 months and settled out of courtroom. Months later, surveillance video appeared to point out Combs kicking and dragging Ventura within the corridor of a resort. Ventura alleged Combs paid resort employees $50,000 to safe footage of the incident.
On different events, Richard alleges Combs pulled Ventura out of a van by her neck and pinned her to the bottom; punched her within the face within the rest room of a celebration; and punched her within the abdomen at a dinner in entrance of a number of high-profile celebrities, together with Interscope Information Founder Jimmy Iovine.
Iovine and Combs had allegedly simply struck a $50 million distribution deal for Combs’ music.
“Even after Mr. Iovine watched Mr. Combs commit a violent assault in entrance of quite a few high-profile witnesses, the Dangerous Boy-Interscope deal came about and remained in impact, offering Mr. Combs with immense monetary rewards and enabling him to commit additional acts of violence with out worry of repercussions,” the grievance says.
Interscope Geffen A&M Information is known as as a defendant within the swimsuit.
Richard and Harper each tried to encourage Ventura to go away Combs and had been allegedly met with a litany of threats from him, resembling “you need to die at present” and “I finish individuals.”
In response to the grievance, Richard additionally noticed the late Kim Porter – Combs’ former girlfriend and the mom of a number of of his youngsters – leaving a recording studio crying, with face accidents.
Richard’s father confronted Combs, grievance says
In December 2010, Diddy-Soiled Cash was making ready for a efficiency on Saturday Evening Stay. Combs known as Richard eager to know her whereabouts. When she and Harper arrived on the studio, he repeatedly chided the ladies and known as them names, drawing the eye of individuals within the foyer, in line with the grievance.
Richard allegedly requested Combs to cease, and he drew a fist as if he had been going to punch her. Combs’ bodyguard stepped in and escorted Richard out of the studio right into a automotive. Harper went after her, and the 2 had been locked within the automotive for a number of hours.
Richard had her telephone together with her and known as her father. He arrived in New York from Baltimore a couple of hours later and threatened to name the police on Combs, who allegedly informed him to “take into consideration your loved ones” and “take into consideration your daughter’s profession,” the grievance says.
After the SNL efficiency, Combs allegedly informed Richard, “You don’t name your dad until you’re within the hospital.”
Richard says she is owed cash for performances and publishing
After Danity Kane broke up, Richard’s songs had been nonetheless being recorded by different artists on Combs’ Dangerous Boy Information. Richard was promised royalties and license charges, which she by no means acquired, she alleges.
Diddy-Soiled Cash discovered success, with hundreds of thousands of single gross sales. Richard estimates she is owed about $1.2 million in unpaid wages and royalties, greater than $350,000 for U.S. tour performances and not less than $1.5 million for her promotion of Ciroc, a vodka model Combs partnered with in 2007.
Richard additionally alleges she was not paid for her involvement in a deliberate reboot for Making the Band in 2020, through which she was to look as a decide. The present was in limbo because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“If Ms. Richard had such a adverse expertise with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she wouldn’t have chosen to proceed working immediately with Mr. Combs for Soiled Cash, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album final 12 months,” Wolff stated.
She added, “It’s unlucky that Ms. Richard has forged their 20-year friendship apart to try to get cash from him, however Mr. Combs is confidently standing on reality and appears ahead to proving that in courtroom.”
Richard is asking for a jury trial; compensatory damages, resembling misplaced wages, royalties, publishing and touring; compensation for extreme emotional misery; civil penalties; punitive damages and lawyer’s charges.
