Sean “Diddy” Combs may have settled the sexual assault lawsuit filed against him by ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, but another scandal revolving around a former Bad Boy executive is already making headlines. According to Rolling Stone, a former assistant has filed a lawsuit accusing the company’s former president, Harve Pierre, of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
The plaintiff, named as Jane Doe, is alleging that from 2016 to 2017 Pierre preyed on her “on multiple occasions in New York City and other locations throughout the country.”
“Pierre used his position of authority as the plaintiff’s boss to groom, exploit, and sexually assault her,” court documents obtained by the outlet state. “Pierre engaged in a year-long pattern of grooming plaintiff, leading to sexual harassment of plaintiff, and sexual assault.”
The lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in New York County Supreme Court through the state’s Adult Survivors Act, allows victims one year to “bring civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse even if the statute of limitations had passed.” The act, which is how Cassie filed suit against Diddy, expires on Friday, Nov. 24.
Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records, and Combs Enterprises are all named as co-defendants in the lawsuit, “accusing the companies of negligence and gender violence.” The plaintiff is asking for damages that “fully and fairly compensate” her for the “physical, emotional, and psychological injuries” she’s suffered.
“Defendants knew or should have known that Pierre was unfit to be in a position of authority before Pierre sexually assaulted the plaintiff,” the lawsuit states.
Pierre and Diddy met when they both attended Howard University, with the former working his way up the ranks of Bad Boy. If these allegations are true, it raises serious concerns about a culture of sexual abuse and harassment at Bad Boy. Were female employees being properly protected? Were their concerns and complaints taken seriously and validated by those in positions of authority?
Combs has to answer for what allegedly happened at his record label. And the excuse that he can’t control his employees doesn’t fly, because Diddy has built his entire brand on being a mogul and a boss. That means the buck stops with him.