Amid personal and business turmoil arising from “Me & U” singer Cassie Ventura’s sexual assault lawsuit against him, Sean “Diddy” Combs has seen his fortunes take a tumble. In addition to stepping down as Chairman of his company Revolt Media (and its television network, Revolt TV) and relinquishing his ownership of DeLeón Tequila, he also sold all his shares in Revolt to an undisclosed buyer earlier this week.
It didn’t take long for the buyer’s identity to be revealed, though; according to Page Six, Essence magazine owner Richelieu Dennis is the new owner of the network founded by Diddy in 2013. Dennis was recently profiled in Forbes as “the Godfather of Black business” after selling his company Sundial Brands, LLC — the parent company of SheaMoisture — to Unilever in 2017 and bought Essence the next year. In the interview, he talked about being “bullish on media” in response to rumors he wanted to buy Vice or BET.
He’s been a controversial figure since those splashy moves, with AfroTech noting that some Black culture critics view him as a “sellout” for selling SheaMoisture to the British consumer goods giant. Meanwhile, last year, Business Insider published a report detailing a “dehumanizing” culture at Essence after speaking with twenty then-current and former employees about the brand’s “extremely unhealthy work culture.”
Universal Music Group would have had enough legal drama to deal with from its row with TikTok over streaming royalties. Unfortunately for Sir Lucian Grainge (CEO of UMG), the company now finds itself drawn into the legal ruckus between Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In Jones’ controversial sexual harassment suit against Combs, he’s alleged that the music mogul’s supposed transgressions have involved a number of celebrities and fellow recording industry higher-ups, including Grainge, Usher, Yung Miami, and even the UK’s Prince Harry. However, in a new court filing UMG blasted Jones and his accusations as its lawyers argued for UMG to be dismissed from the ongoing suit. In addition, UMG wants legal penalties levied against attorney Tyrone Blackburn, who filed Jones’ lawsuit.
“A license to practice law is a privilege. Mr. Blackburn, plaintiff’s lawyer, has misused that license to self-promote, gratuitously, falsely and recklessly accusing the UMG defendants of criminal behavior… The [complaint] hurls accusations of criminal racketeering and criminal sex trafficking against the UMG defendants, respected individuals and companies having utterly nothing to do with plaintiff’s claims. These accusations are recklessly false and, but for the fact that they are embodied in a complaint, would be libelous.
…I have never seen any lawyer, in any pleading, in any court, accuse people and companies of criminal conduct without the slightest basis and then try to file an amended pleading completely jettisoning every allegation underpinning the original claims and substituting completely different and irreconcilable allegations to support the very same claims.”
The response refutes claims that Grainge has ever been to one of Diddy’s supposed “freak parties,” and points out that the only UMG entity with dealings with Combs was Motown, to distribute one album, The Love Album: Off The Grid. You can see the filing in part below:
“Perhaps he believes that he can make outrageously false allegations in a pleading, never serve them, let them marinate in the press for a month and then completely abandon them, file equally false and legally baseless claims…”
It’s been a turbulent few months for Diddy and as a result, for his girlfriend. City Girls rapper Yung Miami has already been facing quite a bit of backlash for her silence on the numerous accusations being made against Diddy. He was even edited out of a reality show following the singer that dropped earlier this year. But recently she was forced into the mix following a raid on two of Diddy’s properties earlier this week.
Following the raids, there were completely unsubstantiated rumors online that Miami was serving as an informant. While she didn’t respond to those claims, once she was added to an actual lawsuit she hit back quickly. Producer Lil Rod’s lawsuit has been one of the most notable filed against Diddy and an update made through his lawyer mentioned Miami directly. It claimed she was serving as a drug trafficker for the rap mogul securing and selling tuci. Miami’s legal team hit back quickly with receipts. They claim that the specific time cited in the lawsuit the rapper was getting fitted for her elaborate Met Gala dress. That puts her in New York at the time of the lawsuits claims, far away from Diddy and his crew in Virginia.
While Miami’s lawyers have been hard at work refuting the allegations against her, she’s continued working. Earlier this week she hit back at a fan on Twitter suggesting she may have been caught up in the raids somehow. Even after the drug trafficking allegations hit she was still on her grind. She shared a preview of an upcoming single she has with Skilla Baby that she’s been promoting for a few weeks now. Unsurprisingly, the tease was met with quite a few jokes from fans online given the circumstances.
What do you think of Yung Miami’s lawyers pulling out receipts after she was mentioned in Lil Rod’s lawsuit? Do you think Miami will face any consequences from her association with Diddy? Let us know in the comment section below.
The recent sexual harassment and assault lawsuit filed by Rodney Jones against Diddy has certainly shaken up the mogul. Reports revealed that the initial filing the producers submitted was over 70 pages long. Evidently, he had a lot to say about Diddy and his alleged shady ways. Despite the length of the original documents, Jones had even more information to deliver. He amended the lawsuit on Monday, March 25, 2024, adding 25 more pages. The updated filing contains allegations against Yung Miami, Diddy’s ex-lover.
Following the raid of Diddy’s L.A. and Miami homes, it’s become clearer that this is a serious matter. Nevertheless, it could still go either way, so onlookers patiently await to witness the story unfold. Unfortunately for her, Yung Miami has now been roped into this highly publicized case. Here’s what we know about Rodney Jones’s allegations against her.
Yung Miami Is Accused Of Transporting “Pink Cocaine” For Diddy
According to the amended court documents obtained by XXL, Diddy allegedly has a love for a substance called “pink cocaine.” This drug, a combination of cocaine and ecstasy, is also called “tuci.” Allegedly, Diddy had a designated drug mule who transported and delivered the substance whenever he wanted. Following Diddy’s home raid, this alleged mule, a man named Brendan Paul, was arrested at a Miami airport.
Rodney Jones’s document identifies Paul as the primary transporter and supplier of the drug. However, the former Syracuse University basketball player is not the only person Jones accused of transporting “tuci.” According to the producer’s statement in the lawsuit, Yung Miami also transported pink cocaine for Diddy.
“Plaintiff and the Combs Rico Enterprise were rehearsing for ‘Something in the Water Festival’ in Virginia. Plaintiff Jones personally witnessed Mr. Combs do a few lines of coke in his dressing room. Defendant Sean Combs wanted tuci but Brendan forgot it, so Defendant Kristina Khorram called Yung Miami. Who then brought it on the private jet from Miami,” reads the court filing. Since this allegation was made against her, Yung Miami has not directly addressed it.
Sex Work Allegations
Besides the aforementioned pink cocaine allegation, Jones also accused Yung Miami of being a sex worker for Diddy. The amended lawsuit alleges that the “50/50” rapper, alongside Daphne Joy, 50 Cent’s ex, engaged in sexual activities with Diddy for money. According to the court filing, Diddy would brag to Jones about his sexual exploits with Yung Miami and Joy. After the women allegedly rendered their services, the document claims that the music mogul would pay them a “monthly stipend.”
“Upon information and belief, Defendants Lucian Charles Grainge, in his capacity as CEO of UMG, authorized Motown Records and Universal Music Group to provide financial resources to Defendants Sean Combs and Love Records through wire transfers to Defendants Sean Combs and Love Records accountant Robin Greenhill. Upon information and belief, Ms. Greenhill ensured the wiring, funds transfer, or cash payments to sex workers were completed,” the suit reads. “According to Plaintiff Jones, Defendant Sean Combs bragged about having several women on a monthly stipend,” it continues. Clearly mentioning the individuals, it reads on, “According to Plaintiff Jones, the women who received these payments are Caresha Romeka Brownlee, aka ‘Yung Miami,’ Jade Ramey, aka ‘Jade,’ and Daphne Joy Cervantes Narvaez, aka, ‘Daphne Joy’ who were paid a monthly fee to work as Mr. Combs’ sex workers.”
Yung Miami has yet to respond to either accusation. Throughout the period of this lawsuit, she has kept a low profile, choosing not to engage with associated topics. However, fans believe she is aware of everything going on and is trying to distance herself from Diddy. We can neither confirm nor deny that speculation. However, it is true that the two haven’t been publicly seen together in a while.
50 Cent has consistently been the biggest troll out there when it comes to Diddy and his current scandal. Overall, Fif is someone who is constantly trying to get under people’s skin. If he has an issue with you, he will make social media posts about you for years. For instance, he hasn’t stopped going after the likes of Young Buck and Ja Rule. As for Diddy, he has been reveling in the allegations levied the music mogul. Ever since the raids at Diddy’s home on Monday, Fif has been very much active on social media, and he has stayed ready with the memes.
However, one of the latest developments in the Diddy scandal involves him in a roundabout way. As we reportedly, Daphne Joy, Fif’s ex, was named as one of Diddy’s alleged sex workers. This subsequently led to a response from 50 Cent, who couldn’t help but make another joke. Now, Fif is taking aim at the alleged video evidence that exists of Diddy’s parties. These parties were allegedly attended by big-name celebrities and politicians. There is suspicion that these are the videos the feds were looking for on Monday.
In a post on his Instagram account, Fif revealed that he wants to have possession of these tapes. “I’ll pay top dollar for them,” he said matter-of-factly. Overall, it is pretty doubtful that these videos are actually for sale. After all, the alleged videos would ultimately be evidence for a federal case. The concept of Fif getting a hold of them sounds pretty far-fetched. Regardless, this is a way for him to troll, so you can be sure he’s not going to pass it up.
Let us know what you think about 50 Cent and his constant attempts at trolling Diddy, in the comments section down below. Do you think that Diddy is eventually going to respond? Do you believe 50 has a documentary on the way? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is learning the hard way these past few months that what’s done in the dark will always find a way to shine. Still, the Bad Boy mogul’s legal team continues to deny any rumoured wrongdoing on his behalf, even as all his alleged former skeletons fall out of the closet. Among them is a 1999 incident at a nightclub that led to the arrest of Jamal “Shyne” Barrow, Jennifer Lopez, and her then-beau Diddy, which the former ultimately served 10 years in prison for. As News Nation reports, the music executive was taken into custody on weapons charges at the time, and in 2008, victim Natania Reuben filed a $130M lawsuit for compensation against Combs. By summer 2011 they settled, though the survivor continues to insist it was Combs who shot her.
“I am the woman who he shot in the face in that Dec. 27, 1999, Club New York shooting. I have told everyone, ad nauseam, since then. I watched him fire the gun,” she shared on social media in February. More recently, she spoke with reporter Elizabeth Vargas about the situation. “I didn’t have any reason to believe that someone wouldn’t believe me. But as things unfolded, it was a very short period of time where I realized that’s what was happening,” the courageous woman shared.
Natania Reuben Speaks Her Truth Regarding Diddy Shyne Nightclub Shooting
Elsewhere, Reuben says she’s feeling “extremely emotional” amid the latest reports of Diddy’s homes being raided across the country. “It’s been basically a quarter of a century since this occurred, and I’ve had to re-live this over and over again,” the woman vented. “When I saw [the raids], it felt really cathartic because I finally feel like justice is being done.”
As authorities and internet sleuths continue to unravel the tangled web of Diddy’s many allegations, the latter is having a field day with the latest news about Yung Miami. According to the Lil Rod lawsuit, the City Girl was on her former Papi’s payroll as a sex worker, along with 50 Cent’s baby mama Daphne Joy. Read all about that at the link below, and let us know what you think is next for Sean Combs in the comments.
As is often the case with those behind the scenes, Ethiopia Habtemariam is not a name many are familiar with. However, the 44-year-old has been actively working in the music industry since she was a teenager in the ‘90s. Over the years, she rose through the ranks and came to command much respect and admiration, eventually becoming the CEO of the renowned Motown Records.
However, Habtemariam’s name is now linked to Diddy’s infamous case. As the music mogul remains under investigation following the wave of allegations made against him by Rodney Jones, it’s anyone’s guess how the former Motown CEO is involved. Nonetheless, in an amended complaint filed to the court, Ethiopia Habtemariam reportedly agreed to testify in Jones’ lawsuit about Diddy’s The Love Album: Off The Grid. Court documents reveal that Habtemariam entered an agreement with Jones to “dismiss all claims” against the Motown CEO in the suit “without prejudice,” NBC reports. While we wait for the story to unfold, here’s what we know about Ethiopia Habtemariam.
Born on September 24, 1979, Ethiopia Habtemariam is an Ethiopian-American businesswoman and music executive. She was born in Berkeley, California, where she spent her early years and developed an interest in pursuing a career in the music industry. Not one to let her dreams die, she decided to act upon this desire, and very early too.
At the age of 14 in 1994, Habtemariam bagged a coveted internship at the renowned LaFace Records. That marked the beginning of her illustrious career in the music industry. While interning at LaFace, then-16-year-old Habtemariam wrote a letter to Sylvia Rhone who was the CEO of Elektra Records at the time. In the letter, the aspiring music executive expressed her awe and admiration for Rhone, a Black woman in such a powerful position. Several years down the line, Ethiopia Habtemariam would come to achieve a similar feat herself.
The Rise Of Ethiopia Habtemariam
ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 01: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Ethiopia Habtemariam attend 2nd Annual The Black Ball Quality Control’s CEO Pierre “Pee” Thomas Birthday Celebration at Fox Theater on June 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
By the end of her four-year internship at LaFace Records, Habtemariam had gained considerable knowledge and experience. Soon after, she began working with Universal Music Group. In subsequent years, she grew and maintained a steady upward trajectory. Eventually, in 2011, Motown Records hired and named Ethiopia Habtemariam as its Senior Vice President. In 2014, she was promoted to President of Motown Records, before topping it all off with a promotion to CEO in 2021.
On November 29, 2022, however, she announced that she would be leaving Motown Records after serving as President for eight years. For her impact and undeniable contributions, Habtemariam made it into Billboard’s 30 Under 30, and 40 Under 40 lists. Additionally, in 2023, she made it into the publication’s Power 100 list as well. Before leaving Motown Records, she helped bring Diddy onto the label for a one-album deal, which she’s willing to testify about in Lil Rod’s lawsuit.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 25: Ethiopia Habtemariam attends “Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby” Atlanta Premiere at Regal Atlantic Station on August 25, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Terence Rushin/Getty Images)
Over the course of her career, the impact of Ethiopia Habtemariam has reverberated across artists, genres, and labels. She has worked with many notable artists, including Ne-Yo, Stevie Wonder, and BJ the Chicago Kid, among many others. One of her most significant contributions to the industry is her unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion. Altogether, Habtemariam has been known to embody the spirit of excellence and empowerment. For years, many have regarded her as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring executives and changemakers alike.
Tyrese is sticking up for Diddy. In a post-and-delete on Instagram, Tyrese remembers the good times with the Bad Boy mogul, including some storied parties.
“What I can’t do and what I won’t do is downplay the laughter, the fun, the energy, the inspiration, the award shows, the studio sessions, the most legendary parties and events I’ve ever attended in my life,” Tyrese said.
Later, he added, “I don’t condone nor do I support abuse, bullying, sexual assault or anything that is currently being alleged, but what I can’t do is turn the blinds on how much this [man] means to me and all of us.”
As HotNewHipHop notes, an X (formerly Twitter) user shared a video from a 2019 Instagram Live session with JT and Yung Miami. In the clip, JT briefly leaves the frame and supposedly makes a suspicious noise, which some believed to be her snorting drugs. The X user wrote, “So that’s where JT getting that shit from? Makes perfect sense now,” with the implication being that JT was getting drugs from Diddy.
JT wasn’t going to take that accusation lying down, as she responded, “First of all I was in the half way house being drug tested EVERY night I went in! I explained this YEARS ago I NEVER did cocaine & never will it actually destroyed my family! Y’all get on her making jokes about shit for shits & giggles & don’t know ppl post trauma! Stop playing with me! PLEASE.”
First of all I was in the half way house being drug tested EVERY night I went in! I explained this YEARS ago I NEVER did cocaine & never will it actually destroyed my family! Y’all get on her making jokes about shit for shits & giggles & don’t know ppl post trauma! Stop playing… https://t.co/6yXv7OPsI4
Another user responded, “JT i luv you but what was u doin in that live cos gurrrl???” JT wrote back, “You ever had mucus? Lol yall are something else on these apps.”
You ever had mucus? Lol yall are something else on these apps.
Stevie J is standing with Diddy as he is being investigated for sex trafficking. Hitting social media, Stevie dropped a video, captioned: “No weapon formed against us shall prosper.” In the video, Stevie J nods his head to a gospel beat.
Stevie J reacts to Diddy’s homes being raided by praying for Diddy and his kids, Justin Combs and Christian Combs. pic.twitter.com/tJf6NbEELr
In a recent Diddy lawsuit, Stevie J was mentioned. The former Love and Hip-Hop star was allegedly in a sex tape with a white man.
After the images of said sex tape leaked to the Internet, an adult star, D’Angelo “Knockout” Marquis, hit X, formerly Twitter, to say he was the one in the video. “That’s me smh,” he wrote.
In a separate tweet, Knockout wrote: “They will not bring him down off my name try again.”
KNOCKOUT