Current:Home > MyDiddy's ex-bodyguard sues rape accuser for defamation over claims of 2001 assault-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Diddy's ex-bodyguard sues rape accuser for defamation over claims of 2001 assault
View Date:2024-12-23 11:47:30
A bodyguard who was named in a September lawsuit that alleged he and Sean "Diddy" Combs "viciously raped" a woman in 2001 is now suing the accuser for defamation and emotional distress.
According to a filing reviewed by USA TODAY, Joseph Sherman sued Thalia Graves in New York federal court on Friday, with his attorneys calling Graves' allegations "utterly false and untrue. They claimed his work with Combs in 1999, years before the alleged events in Graves' lawsuit.
In the suit, Sherman's attorneys say Graves and her legal team are attempting to "blackmail him," adding that Graves and her lawyers "made outrageous, disgusting, and life altering statements ... without any regard for the truth." They continued: "Joseph Sherman has never met Thalia Graves, let alone raped her."
Sherman "continues to suffer severe reputational harm, emotional distress, and financial damages" as a result of Graves' lawsuit, per his filing. He also accuses Graves of messaging and asking him to provide "false testimony against Sean Combs" in exchange for being left out of the legal proceedings.
A lawyer for Graves declined to comment. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Combs and Sherman for comment.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his formerbodyguard accused of drugging and raping woman in 2001
Thalia Graves' lawsuit accused Diddy, former bodyguard Joseph Sherman of drugging and raping her
Graves filed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in September, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY at the time.
In her complaint, Graves said she was dating one of Combs' employees at the time and alleged that Combs and Sherman drugged, bound and raped at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City around the summer of 2001. She sought relief from the court for gender-motivated violence and violation of New York law by allegedly recording and sharing footage of her assault.
Graves held a press conference with her lawyer, famed attorney Gloria Allred, after filing her lawsuit. An emotional Graves appeared to gain her composure before making her statement.
"The internal pain after being sexually assaulted has been incredibly deep and hard to put into words," Graves said while crying. "It goes beyond just physical harm caused by and during the assault."
In November 2023, Graves learned that Combs and Sherman had recorded their alleged assault of her, according to her lawsuit. She claimed they showed the footage to "multiple men, seeking to publicly degrade and humiliate both (Graves) and her boyfriend," and also sold it as pornography.
Graves alleged that when she reached out to Sherman in an attempt to convince him to destroy the sex tape or give it to her, he did not respond.
As compensation, Graves seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a court order that would require Combs and Sherman to destroy all copies and images of the video of her alleged sexual assault and refrain from distributing the footage in the future.
Graves' lawsuit is among around 30 civil cases filed over the past year that have accused Combs of sexual and physical assault, sex trafficking, battery and gender discrimination, among other allegations. He has maintained his innocence in all of these cases and in September pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
- LL COOL J’s First Album in 11 Years Is Here — Get a Signed Copy and Feel the Beat of The Force
- It's Beyoncé's birthday: 43 top moments from her busy year
- Katy Perry Rewards Orlando Bloom With This Sex Act After He Does the Dishes
- Taylor Swift Becomes Auntie Tay In Sweet Photo With Fellow Chiefs WAG Chariah Gordon's Daughter
- You Have 24 Hours To Get 50% Off a Teeth Whitening Kit That Delivers Professional Results & $8 Ulta Deals
- The Reason Jenn Tran and Devin Strader—Plus 70 Other Bachelor Nation Couples—Broke Up After the Show
- Atlantic City casino workers plan ad blitz to ban smoking after court rejects ban
- All the Ways Megan Fox Hinted at Her Pregnancy With Machine Gun Kelly
- Deion Sanders takes show to Nebraska: `Whether you like it or not, you want to see it'
Ranking
- How Saturday Night Live Reacted to Donald Trump’s Win Over Kamala Harris
- Justin Theroux Shares Ex Jennifer Aniston Is Still Very Dear to Him Amid Nicole Brydon Bloom Engagement
- Notre Dame, USC lead teams making major moves forward in first NCAA Re-Rank 1-134 of season
- Mega Millions winning numbers for September 3 drawing: Did anyone win $681 million jackpot?
- Who is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman Donald Trump picked to serve as attorney general?
- Should I buy stocks with the S&P 500 at an all-time high? History has a clear answer.
- Afghan refugee pleads no contest to 2 murders in case that shocked Albuquerque’s Muslim community
- Brittni Mason sprints to silver in women's 100m, takes on 200 next
Recommendation
-
Gun groups sue to overturn Maine’s new three-day waiting period to buy firearms
-
Man arrested at Trump rally in Pennsylvania wanted to hang a protest banner, police say
-
Denise Richards Strips Down to Help a Friend in Sizzling Million Dollar Listing L.A. Preview
-
Rural America faces a silent mental health crisis. My dad fought to survive it.
-
Rita Ora Says Liam Payne “Left Such a Mark on This World” in Emotional Tribute
-
Pregnant Gypsy Rose Blanchard Shares Glimpse at Her Baby in 20-Week Ultrasound
-
Trial begins in Florida for activists accused of helping Russia sow political division, chaos
-
Israelis go on strike as hostage deaths trigger demand for Gaza deal | The Excerpt