Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ordered to pay $100m in sexual assault case

Sean "Diddy" Combs has been ordered to pay $100 million in a civil judgment after failing to contest sexual assault allegations.

According to the Detroit Metro Times, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, accused Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a 1997 party in Detroit. Cardello-Smith, who is currently incarcerated, filed the lawsuit and presented evidence showing Combs's name in a prison visitation log.

During a virtual hearing on 7 August, Cardello-Smith testified that Combs offered him $2.3 million to drop the lawsuit, which he rejected. Cardello-Smith claimed Combs said he would not acknowledge the allegations in court. Judge Anna Marie Anzalone subsequently issued an order preventing Combs from selling assets that could cover any awarded damages.

When Combs failed to appear at a later virtual hearing, Judge Anzalone awarded a default judgment in favor of Cardello-Smith. This is one of several lawsuits filed by Cardello-Smith, who also sued the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Detroit for alleged abuse by two priests and a lay employee. It remains unclear if or how Cardello-Smith will be able to collect the judgment from Combs.