Sean 'Diddy' Combs temporarily steps down as chairman of Revolt following sexual assault lawsuits
Following a trio of sexual assault lawsuits brought against him, Sean "Diddy" Combs is temporarily stepping down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt.
The network confirmed Combs’ exit from the company in a statement shared on Instagram Tuesday. It’s not clear when he will return to the media company.
“Sean Combs has stepped down from his position as chairman of Revolt,” the statement reads. “While Mr. Combs has previously had no operational or day-to-day role in the business, this decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and the African diaspora.”
Despite Combs’ recent legal troubles, Revolt did not disclose the reason for Combs’ departure in the statement.
“Our focus has always been one that reflects our commitment to the collective journey of Revolt,” the statement concludes. “One that is not driven by an individual, but by the shared efforts and values of our entire team on behalf of advancing, elevating and championing our culture – and that continues.”
A representative for Combs declined to comment further on the matter to USA TODAY on Tuesday.
Combs launched Revolt, a music-oriented cable network, in 2013 alongside media entrepreneur Andy Schuon. The network has been preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Combs’ resignation from Revolt follows a whirlwind series of legal battles for the rapper, including a bombshell lawsuit by ex-girlfriend Cassie that accused Combs of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse. The pair reached a settlement in the case Nov. 17, just one day after Cassie filed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
After Combs and Cassie’s settlement, two more women came forward to accuse him of sexual abuse. Both suits were filed last week on the eve of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law permitting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action regardless of the statute of limitations.
The filings detail acts of sexual assault, beatings and forced drugging allegedly committed in the early 1990s by Combs, then a talent director, party promoter and rising figure in New York City’s hip-hop community.
Last week, a woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a sexual assault complaint against Combs in Manhattan Supreme Court. Dickerson-Neal accused Combs of drugging and raping her when she was a college student in 1991. Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records and Combs Enterprises are listed as defendants in the suit as well.
A spokesperson for Combs said in a statement Thursday that this "last-minute lawsuit is an example of how a well-intentioned law can be turned on its head."
"Ms. Dickerson's 32-year-old story is made up and not credible," the statement to TMZ continued. "Mr. Combs never assaulted her and she implicates companies that did not exist. This is purely a money grab and nothing more."
Combs is among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
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Contributing: Anika Reed and Pamela Avila, USA TODAY; Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
