A music producer named Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones has filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing him of forcing him to procure sex workers and engage in unwelcome sex acts. The lawsuit was amended to include allegations that actor Cuba Gooding Jr. sexually harassed and assaulted him on Combs’ yacht. Gooding allegedly groped Jones and touched him inappropriately, despite Jones pushing him away. The incident occurred on a yacht rented by Combs in the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 2023. Gooding has not been charged with any crime in relation to these allegations.
In a separate case, Gooding previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of forcibly kissing a nightclub worker in New York in 2018. He completed counseling and ultimately resolved the case with no jail time. The current allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against him have not resulted in any charges. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages for the alleged assault, but the amount has not been specified and will be determined at trial.
Federal officials have searched Combs’ homes as part of an ongoing federal investigation, which reportedly involves allegations of sex trafficking, assault, illegal narcotics, and firearms. Several individuals have been interviewed in relation to these allegations in Manhattan. Combs has denied the allegations of misconduct in civil cases filed by four women, with one case quickly settled and three others pending. Combs has reaffirmed his innocence, stating that he will fight for his name, family, and the truth in response to the allegations.
Jones claimed in the lawsuit that he worked on Combs’ latest album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” which was released in September 2023 and received a Grammy nomination. The lawsuit asserts that Jones was not fully compensated for his work on the album, while Motown Records and others benefitted from it. The amended complaint includes a declaration from former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam, who appears willing to testify about the contract involving the album. The lawsuit is seeking damages, including punitive damages, with the amounts to be determined at trial.
Although Cuba Gooding Jr. has not been charged in connection to the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct brought forward by Rodney Jones, the lawsuit is part of an amended civil complaint that includes accusations against Sean “Diddy” Combs as well. Combs is reportedly the subject of a federal investigation that involves allegations of sex trafficking, assault, illegal narcotics, and firearms, with federal officials conducting searches at his properties in Los Angeles and Miami. Gooding has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations made by Jones in the lawsuit, while Combs has denied the allegations of misconduct in civil cases filed against him. The investigation and legal proceedings surrounding these allegations continue to unfold with further developments expected in the future.
