Cuba Gooding Jr.; Sean “Diddy” Combs.Photo:Andrew H Walker/Shutterstock; John Shearer/Getty
Andrew H Walker/Shutterstock; John Shearer/Getty
Jones, who previously worked as a producer for Combs, 54,alleged in a civil complaint in New York federal courtlast month that Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for over a year.
While Gooding, 56, was mentioned in the original filing, a version of the lawsuit amended Monday now lists him as a defendant.
Jones “believes” Combs was “grooming him to pass him off to his friends” when he introduced Jones to Gooding and allegedly “suggested that Cuba ‘get to know’ Mr. Jones better.”
According to the complaint, Jones was “extremely uncomfortable” and “rejected his advances” but Gooding allegedly “did not stop until Mr. Jones forcibly pushed him away.”
An attorney for Gooding did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Cuba Gooding Jr. on June 12, 2023.Johnny Nunez/FilmMagic
Johnny Nunez/FilmMagic
Combs’ adult sonJustin, his chief of staff Kristina Khorram, and Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge are also named as defendants in the updated lawsuit.
In February, when the lawsuit was originally filed, Combs' lawyer Shawn Holley said in a statement: “Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday. His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines.”
“We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,” Holley added at the time. “Our attempts to share this proof with Mr. Jones’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, have been ignored, as Mr. Blackburn refuses to return our calls. We will address these outlandish allegations in court and take all appropriate action against those who make them.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs on Jan. 25, 2020.Steve Granitz/WireImage
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Gooding has faced other separate sexual assault allegations in the past. In April 2022, theactor pleaded guilty to one count of forcibly touchinga woman at a New York City rooftop bar back in 2018. And in June 2023, Goodingsettled a 2020 lawsuit brought against him, in which he was accused of raping a woman twice in 2013.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
