Diddy wins major legal battle as judge tosses most of $60M lawsuit from Sara Rivers

Diddy scored a major courtroom victory after a federal judge dismissed nearly all claims in a $60 million lawsuit filed by Sara Rivers, a former contestant on MTV’s Making the Band 2 and member of Da Band.

U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff ruled that 21 of the 22 claims brought by Rivers either lacked legal merit or were filed too late under statute of limitations laws. The sole remaining claim—alleging a violation of the New York City Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act—remains on hold pending a federal appeals court decision on the validity of recent amendments to the statute.

Rivers’ lawsuit, filed over two decades after her time on the early-2000s reality show, accused Diddy of sexual harassment, assault, forced labor, and emotional abuse. She alleged inappropriate touching during filming, mocking of her eating disorder, and being forced to share housing with male group members despite being married. The complaint also referenced the infamous “cheesecake” episode, where the group walked from Manhattan to Brooklyn for dessert, while allegedly being paid $5,000 per episode plus a one-time $25,000 bonus.

Diddy’s legal team has consistently denied all allegations, labeling the lawsuit “meritless” and “completely false.” Several claims were voluntarily withdrawn by Rivers prior to the hearing, which the judge marked as moot.

With the dismissal “with prejudice,” the rejected claims cannot be refiled, solidifying Diddy’s significant legal win as the high-profile dispute narrows to just one unresolved claim.