Beyond music,Combs created the fashion clothing line Sean John,launched the Revolt TV channel with a focus on music,and produced the reality showMaking the Band for MTV.

What are the allegations against him?

There have been several sexual assault lawsuits filed against Combs in recent months.

Combs’ former protege and girlfriend,the R&B singer Cassie (Cassandra Ventura),sued him in November alleging years of sexual abuse,including rape. The lawsuit said he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them. The suit was settled the day after it was filed.

Four other people accused Combs of assault following Ventura’s lawsuit. The first was Liza Gardner,who filed a suit on November 23 that alleged the rapper had sexually assaulted her and her friend in 1990.

The second was filed on the same day by Joi Dickerson-Neal,who alleged that in 1991 she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Combs while on a date with him. She claimed Combs recorded the assault to use as revenge porn.

Another lawsuit was filed on December 6 by an unidentified woman. It alleged she wasgang-raped by Combs and two other men at the rapper’s Manhattan recording studio in 2003. She was only 17 at the time. The complaint alleged they flew Doe on a private jet from Michigan to New York,where the men plied her with drugs and alcohol.

The latest lawsuit was filed in February by a male music producer,who alleged Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them. Combs’ attorney Shawn Holley has said of those allegations that “we have overwhelming,indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies”.

Combs had said in a November statement:“I did not do any of the awful things being alleged.” He also posted astatement on Instagram in December,further denying the claims.

“Enough is enough,” he wrote. “For the last couple of weeks,I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character,destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear:I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name,my family and for the truth.”

In late November,Combstemporarily stepped down as chairman of his media company Revolt. Capital Prep Harlem,a charter school he established in 2016,also announced it would end its partnership with him.

AP with Nell Geraets

Support is available from theNational Sexual Assault,Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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