Despite the court settlement with Cassie after being accused of sexual assault, rape and human trafficking, the weight of the accusations are still affecting Hip Hop mogul Diddy with Harlem’s Capital Preparatory Schools cutting ties with him amidst the allegations.
Dr. Steve Perry, the founder and head of schools for Capital Preparatory, issued a public statement about their decision to terminate their association with Diddy, citing it was in the best interest of the organization’s health and future.
Diddy played a key role in launching the charter school’s Harlem location in 2016 and had gave a $1 million donation in 2021 for its new Bronx location.
The termination of the partnership occurred shortly after Diddy announced his temporary step down as the chairman of Revolt yesterday(November 28).
Former governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo now appears on the long list of men facing lawsuits under the ASA. The Adult Survivors Act is a legislation that was enacted in November 2022. However, it had a one-year look-back period that was meant to end on November 24, 2023. As a result of the impending expiration, there was an unexpected surge in the number of lawsuits filed within the final weeks. Consequently, several prominent names, including Cuba Gooding Jr. and former pro footballer Marcellus Wiley, among others, had cases filed against them. Unfortunately for the former governor, he now faces a lawsuit of his own under the ASA.
Yes, @NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched.
I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years.
Although this is the first lawsuit filed against him under the ASA, Andrew Cuomo has previously been accused of sexual assault. The first of many was from Lindsey Boylan, a former aide of his. In a series of tweets shared on December 13, 2020, she shared, “[he] sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched.” Furthermore, she stated that “I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years.”
Subsequently, Cuomo’s office addressed the accusations, claiming that they were false. However, that was only the beginning, as several other women eventually spoke up against the former governor. Following a second accusation from Charlotte Bennett on February 27, 2021, Cuomo finally released a statement personally. “At work sometimes, I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business,” he said.
Cuomo tendered his apology, stating further, “I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.” Unfortunately for him, the statement did not stop accusations from rolling in.
Investigations Into The Claims
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 09: Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo attends the Tribeca Festival Welcome Lunch during the 2021 Tribeca Festival at Pier 76 on June 09, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
Throughout March 2021, several allegations from multiple women were made against Andrew Cuomo. Concurrently, on March 11, an investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations was approved by the New York Assembly. Five months after the investigation was approved, shocking results were revealed. According to the report, throughout his time in office, Cuomo allegedly sexually assaulted 11 women, three of whom chose to remain anonymous. Throughout the ordeal, Cuomo maintained that he was innocent. However, following the release of the report, President Joe Biden called upon him to resign. On August 10, 2021, Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation, and he stepped down soon after.
Brittany Commisso, a former executive assistant to Andrew Cuomo, now faces her former boss head-on. Back in 2021, she was one of the 11 women whom Cuomo was found to have sexually assaulted. While she stayed silent for the most part following his resignation, she has chosen to speak against him once more. On November 24, 2023, right before the ASA expired, she filed a lawsuit against Cuomo. In detail, Commisso alleges that throughout the time she worked with Cuomo, she was subjected to “humiliating and demeaning tasks, hugs, kisses, sexual touching of the buttocks and forcible touching of the breast.” In her statement to the New York Post, she said further:
“It disgusts me that Andrew Cuomo is even considering running for public office in the wake of Mayor Adam’s alleged sexual harassment when he himself will not accept responsibility or even acknowledge his sexual harassment of me, aside from numerous other victims, while the governor of our state,” Furthermore, according to Commisso’s court filings, she was demoted after she accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct in March 2021. Subsequently, she was resigned to “the demeaning task of answering telephones in the Lieutenant Governor’s office until moved to other offices.”
In response to Commisso’s lawsuit, Cuomo’s lawyer Rita Glavin dismissed her accusations. “Ms. Commisso’s claims are provably false, which is why the Albany District Attorney dismissed the case two years ago after a thorough investigation,” the lawyer said. “Ms. Commisso’s transparent attempt at a cash grab will fail. We look forward to seeing her in court.” There have been no further updates on this case as of yet.
Marcellus Wiley has gone most of his life without major legal troubles. However, it seems even he may not escape the grasp of the Adult Survivors Act. In an unexpected turn of events, Wiley has been hit with a sexual assault lawsuit filed under the ASA.
This is one of many more lawsuits of this kind that have been filed recently. Concurrently, the allegations against Marcellus Wiley place him among the high-profile men with cases filed against them just before the ASA expired. Notably, celebrities like Sean Combs and Jamie Foxx have been accused of sexual misconduct within the last few weeks. Moreover, Cuba Gooding Jr. has been hit with assault allegations yet again. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at the case against the former pro footballer.
What Are The Allegations Against Marcellus Wiley?
15 SEP 2002: San Diego Chargers Marcellus Wiley during a game against the Houston Texans at the Qualcomm Stadium Sunday September 15, 2002, in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
An alumnus of the prestigious Columbia University, Marcellus Wiley graduated with a degree in Sociology in 1997. Now, over two decades after leaving the school, he has been accused of doing something inadequate in his time there. On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, an unnamed woman who claims to be an alumna of the university filed a lawsuit against him. According to the document, the plaintiff was a student of sociology herself, with a focus on race and culture. However, in the fall of 1994, she was a freshman, and Wiley was a sophomore when he allegedly forced himself on and raped her. Additionally, she claims that he relentlessly ignored her verbal objections and robbed her of her virginity in the process.
Excerpts From The Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: (L-R) Annemarie Wiley and Marcellus Wiley (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Shine Global Inc)
The lawsuit was filed in New York State Supreme Court, and excerpts from the document have since been shared by PEOPLE. “Defendant Marcellus Wiley told plaintiff he would come visit her later that evening in her room,” it states. “Plaintiff responded: ‘Okay, but I don’t have sex. I’m a virgin.’ Defendant Marcellus Wiley laughed and responded, ‘Relax, relax, wow! I don’t mean like that! I’m just going to come by there to get food from Grandma’s [Restaurant], so I’ll just come up to say hi before I head back.’ Defendant then joked that ‘nobody liked having sex with virgins.’”
Subsequently, the plaintiff allegedly apologized to Wiley, informing him that she just wanted to be upfront with him. She did this so that “he would not feel misled” about her intentions and what she was willing to do. Afterward, Wiley allegedly responded, “Ain’t nobody tryna have sex with no virgin! Don’t worry, I got you. Just coming to hang out while I eat. I don’t even have condoms on me.”
Following their conversation, Wiley eventually joined the woman in her single room, according to the lawsuit. In short, soon after his arrival, he allegedly sexually assaulted the plaintiff and raped her multiple times. The lawsuit further alleges that “[Wiley’s] actions were intentionally designed to cause plaintiff severe emotional distress or were taken with reckless disregard of the significant and/or substantial probability of causing plaintiff severe emotional distress.” In addition, the lawsuit states that “the following spring, while on mandatory leave, plaintiff attempted suicide. Plaintiff was admitted to a locked hospital ward for two weeks before being released.”
Marcellus Wiley’s Response
Soon after the lawsuit was filed in court, Marcellus Wiley addressed the topic on his YouTube channel. While he admitted to spending the night in the plaintiff’s dorm room, the former Buffalo Bills player denied the allegations of rape and assault. On his channel, he claimed that he was invited to her room and that she had to sign him in and out on his arrival and departure. Additionally, he insisted that although they “did mess around,” they “did not engage in intercourse.” No further information has been provided yet about the case.
Yesterday, Diddy was hit with a third lawsuit for alleged assault. It follows Cassie’s lawsuit, which she filed against the Bad Boy Records founder earlier this month. He and Cassie reached a settlement shortly after the long list of allegations came out, but he continues to maintain his innocence.
This latest lawsuit comes from former Syracuse University student Joi Dickerson-Neal, who accuses Diddy of raping her in the 90s. According to her, he allegedly drugged her after she left her drink unattended on a table during a date. She claims to have “reluctantly” agreed to the date in the first place, as she says she had heard of his alleged “mistreatment of women.” Dickerson-Neal further accuses him of revenge porn, alleging that he filmed her assault and shared the video with others. A spokesperson for Diddy has now responded to the suit, denying the allegations. They claim that the performer is simply being “targeted,” accusing the alleged victim of “exploiting” the Adult Survivors Act.
“These are civil suits with fabricated claims of misconduct from 30 years ago, which are nothing but a blatant money grab,” they told TMZ. “Mr. Combs is being unfairly targeted by anonymous accusers who lie for financial gain. The New York Legislature never intended the Adult Survivors Act to be exploited.” There’s been an influx in sexual assault lawsuits against various figures in recent days, which is believed to be because the deadline for New York’s Adult Survivors Act was yesterday.
“Our client has not been able to escape the continuing impact of the harm Combs caused her many years ago. Through the Adult Survivors Act, she can avail herself to the courts to finally seek justice,” Dickerson-Neal’s lawyer Jonathan Goldhirsh says. What do you think of Diddy’s response to this latest lawsuit? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Cuba Gooding Jr has been sued by two women who allege that the actor sexually assaulted him in New York bars. Jasmine Abbay accused Gooding Jr of “forcibly kissing her without consent” when she was working as a cocktail waitress in midtown Manhattan in September 2018. Meanwhile, Kelsey Herbert claimed Gooding Jr “groped her breast” at a different Midtown bar in June 2019. “Our clients were deprived of the justice they sought in the criminal case. They are now seeking justice and accountability in their civil cases”, said the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Gloria Allred. Allred has risen to prominence in recent years, representing clients in cases against Bill Cosby and Donald Trump.
The two women are seeking unspecified damages under the Adult Survivors Act. The act is a state law that lets women sue their alleged abusers beyond the initial statute of limitations for the crimes in question. However, the law is set to expire tomorrow. Other high-profile cases under this law include the recent suits against Axl Rose, Russell Brand, and Diddy. Gooding Jr previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge in Abbay’s case. However, the charge was later downgraded from “forcible touching” to simple harassment. Furthermore, in June of this year, Gooding Jr settled a lawsuit brought forward by an alleged 2013 rape victim.
However, Gooding Jr isn’t the only public figure in legal trouble this week. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor. The allegations first emerged on social media, with users appearing to post evidence of Giddey interacting with a reportedly then-17-year-old Olivia Cook. One of the widely-cited pieces of alleged evidence was a Snapchat post showing Giddey and Cook in a post-coital state of undress with the in-picture text caption “Just f-cked Josh Giddey”. Furthermore, social media users later uncovered more posts that appeared to corroborate the story. Additionally, they found Cooks’ alleged TikTok account, which appeared to confirm that she was not 18.
However, the allegations are largely unverified and stem primarily from second-hand reporting of social media posts. Neither Giddey nor Cook have released a statement at this time. Giddey, a first-round pick in 2021 and widely considered the future of Australian basketball, played against the Bulls in a game on Wednesday night. He had 10 points and 6 rebounds in the Thunder win. This is a developing story and we will have any updates as and when they emerge.
Brandon T. Jackson’s comments about Cassie’s lawsuit against Diddy got him in a lot of heat with social media users. Moreover, he posted a video from his car addressing the Bad Boy signee’s alleged experience with sexual assault and physical abuse at the hands of her label’s mogul. In it, the actor held a “confessional session” where he admitted to sleeping with many women, being late on child support, and other lighter topics. It’s a bizarre clip, but it seems to joke about skeletons coming out of the closet in situations like these, and about people quickly getting “cancelled” for their views and actions.
After many called this out as tone-deaf or disrespectful, Brandon T. Jackson released another video on social media clarifying his take on these allegations, of which similar ones recently emerged from Diddy’s other partners. “I’m no one’s slave,” the clip’s caption read. “I say what I want. I work when I want. But I don’t disrespect people trauma don’t take my words out of context. Period.” In the video itself, he goes into a little more detail about his thoughts and how folks misconstrued them.
“Well, I guess I gotta do it for the 32nd generation that don’t pay attention to context or jokes,” Brandon T. Jackson remarked of his original intent, making it more clear that he was making fun of himself and just using this situation as a jumping-off point. “If anybody who knows anything about comedic satire, I come from a long form of content. It’s called film. It’s called comedic satire. No way would I ever make fun of Cassie’s trauma, or Diddy, or whatever’s going on. I was talking about myself, I was self-joking about myself. So that’s what it was.”
Meanwhile, other celebrities are also having a hard time speaking on this issue without getting backlash. Whether that’s of their own design or as a result of overblown suppositions is a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, as this lawsuit gets uglier and more scandalous, more instances like this of misinterpretation or ridicule will probably happen. For more news on Diddy, Cassie, and Brandon T. Jackson, stay logged into HNHH.
Russell Brand has been named in a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault on the set of the 2011 film Arthur. The woman, who filed the suit under the name Jane Doe, claims that Brand exposed his penis to her and later assaulted her in a bathroom. Furthermore, the suit alleges that prior to both incidents, Brand “appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol, and was carrying a bottle of vodka on set.” Of the bathroom assault, the woman claimed that Brand sexually assaulted her while “a member of the production crew guarded the door from the outside.”
Additionally, the woman claims she was hired to do three days of work on the film. However, she alleges that she was asked not to return after the first day. Additionally, she claims she was only paid for that day. Jane Doe becomes the sixth woman to allege sexual assault on the part of Brand. The allegations were first reported by British news outlet Channel 4. Several criminal investigations in the United Kingdom have been launched as a result.
As mentioned, at least five women have come forward with allegations concerning Brand, many dating back several years. This has led to a number of police investigations in the United Kingdom. While the London Metropolitan Police are handling most of the allegations, an investigation was also opened by the Thames Valley Police. In a statement issued in early October, the Thames Valley Police acknowledged they had reopened an investigation into stalking and harassment claims made against Brand between 2018 and 2022.
Meanwhile, one woman has alleged Brand sexually assaulted while she was a minor. Elsewhere, another woman has claimed Brand raped her in Los Angeles in 2012. Brand, once the golden child of 2000s British alternative culture, has denied all the allegations against him. Brand found an audience with his roguish behavior and outspoken style. However, Brand has performed a hard shift into wellness content and conspiracy theories in recent years. This, as well as a number of unsavory public incidents, saw him lose almost all of his mainstream momentum.
Amid speculation surrounding his sexuality, Dwight Howard has told people to “stay out my damn business”. “What happens in my bedroom is my business. What happens in yours is your business,” Howard argued in a social media post. It comes after the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Ma$e took to their respective shows with massive audiences to preach about the salacious details of Howard’s private life.
However, as many people noted online, only half the story is being told in Howard’s latest post. It’s not just Howard’s sexuality that is being questioned. Howard has been accused of sexually assaulting a man at his home. Howard has formally denied sexually assaulting model Stephen Harper. However, he did not deny inviting Harper to his home for a threesome, which allegedly involved a cross-dresser named Kitty. Furthermore, Harper alleges that he was forced to perform sexual acts on Howard and that Howard performed non-consensual acts on him after he objected to participating in the account. Howard has been sued by Harper but has not been formally charged with a crime.
Meanwhile, influencer and author Masin Elije has reportedly broken an NDA to speak out against Howard. “He goes to sex parties and preys on younger men, which is why he originally why he threatened, forced, and tried to intimidate me into signing a NDA,” Elije wrote on social media. Furthermore, Elije claimed that they had also been harassed by the aforementioned “Kitty” in 2018.
Furthermore, the likes of Stephen A. Smith have theorized that the lawsuit filed against Howard by Harper is the reason that Howard is not in the NBA this season. The ESPN personality made his claims on the most recent episode of The Stephen A. SmithShow, becoming visibly disgusted while reading Harper’s account of what Howard did to him following an invitation for a threesome at Howard’s home.
As we have reported extensively over the last couple of days, Dwight Howard is facing some serious sexual assault allegations. The allegations come from a man named Stephen Harper, not to be confused with the former Prime Minister of Canada. Overall, the man claims he was supposed to meet with Howard for sex. However, things went left when Howard surprised the man with another man who was dressed as a woman. The person went by the name Kitty, and Howard allegedly wanted them all to have a threesome.
Subsequently, the man alleges how Howard eventually forced oral sex on him and continues to act coercively. Howard has denied any wrongdoing. Although he and his lawyer have confirmed that he did know the man and that they engaged in consensual sex. That said, fans want to get some clarity on the situation. Unfortunately, Howard is not taking this very seriously, at all. Instead, he is blaming the chatter on “haters.” For instance, in the video below, he responds to a fan asking about Kitty by just posting himself with a lion.
In another TikTok, Howard can be seen furiously typing on his electronic devices in what can only be described as a skit. The caption to the skit is, “how they want me to respond to the haters online.” Overall, it is a pretty bizarre way to handle the situation. The allegations against Howard are extremely serious. However, he isn’t taking it all that seriously. Being accused of sexual assault isn’t exactly “hating.” There are very real criminal implications being alleged.
Former Lakers Star Won’t Stop
The Dwight Howard situation is one that we will continue to monitor. Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world. We will always keep you informed on your favorite athletes.
Stephen A. Smith has claimed that the details of the Dwight Howard lawsuit, namely that he performed non-consensual acts on model Stephen Harper, is the reason that Howard went unsigned in the NBA this past offseason. The ESPN personality made his claims on the most recent episode of The Stephen A. SmithShow, becoming visibly disgusted while reading Harper’s account of what Howard did to him following an invitation for a threesome at Howard’s home.
Dwight Howard has formally denied sexually assaulting model Stephen Harper. Howver, he did not deny inviting Harper to his home for a threesome, which allegedly involved an individual named Kitty. Based on the accounts given by Howard and Harper, it is unclear if Kitty is a transgender individual or simply a cross-dresser. Furthermore, Harper alleges that he was forced to perform sexual acts on Howard and that Howard performed non-consensual acts on him after he objected to participating in the account. Howard has been sued by Harper but has not been formally charged with a crime.
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) October 26, 2023
Meanwhile, on It Is What It Is, Ma$e gave a similar conclusion to Smith. However, the rapper focused more on Howard’s sexuality than the claims of sexual assault. We gotta stop saying it doesn’t matter what happens behind closed doors because it does matter. People wouldn’t be talking about it if it didn’t matter. There’s a reason that 30 teams didn’t sign Dwight Howard,” the rapper argued. At no point in the monologue does Ma$e refer to the accusations being made against Howard.
However, it’s not the first time that Ma$e has addressed the Dwight Howard allegations. Back in August, he and Cam’ron appeared to imply that Dwight Howard’s sexuality was more of a concern than the sexual assault allegations against him. In the episode, Cam’ron claimed that days before the assault allegations were made public, Howard’s team reached out. Their intention was apparently to secure an appearance for Howard. Cam’ron then proceeded to ask his co-host how he would react. In particular, given the revelations, how he would react if he was on a team and playing with Howard. “I don’t want to say it because we’re on the air. But I would probably want Howard to have his own space,” Ma$e argued. The comment implied that he would want Howard segregated from the team due to his attraction to men.
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