Sean 'Diddy' Combs ordered to pay over $100 million in sexual assault case

According to a default judgment order, a Michigan judge ruled that Combs will pay $100,000,310.40 to the plaintiff.

A Michigan judge has ordered rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs to pay over $100 million in a sexual assault case.

Per a court filing viewed by Entertainment Weekly, Lenawee County Circuit Court Judge Anna Marie Anzalone decided Monday that Combs, 54, will pay $100,000.314.40 to the plaintiff in the case, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who filed a lawsuit against Combs for, according to local news, allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting him in Detroit in 1997. The judge granted Cardello-Smith’s motion for default judgment after Combs did not appear at the hearing, per court records.

In a statement provided to EW by Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, Cardello-Smith is described as a "convicted felon and sexual predator," and that "Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit." He indicated that "Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed."

Per public inmate records, Cardello-Smith, 51, is currently serving jail time at the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility on 14 sentences related to criminal sexual conduct.

EW has reached out to a representative for the Lenawee County Circuit Court for comment.

Combs has been accused of multiple instances of alleged sexual misconduct and assault since November 2023, when his ex-girlfriend, recording artist Cassie, filed a lawsuit against him alleging that Combs raped and physically abused her.

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused by Cassie of rape, years of control and physical abuse in lawsuit

A legal representative told EW at the time that Combs "vehemently denies" Cassie's allegations, though a video later surfaced showing the performer physically assaulting Cassie at a hotel in 2016.

"It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you gotta do that,” Combs said in an Instagram video after the clip went public via CNN. "I was f–--ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”

Through his legal team, Combs has also denied other allegations against him, including one from music producer Rodney Jones Jr., who said Combs groped him while they worked on music together (attorney Shawn Holley told EW the allegations were "pure fiction"). And another allegation from former adult film actress Adria English, who accused Combs of forcing her to engage in prostitution and sex work at his homes in New York and Miami.

In a statement to EW, Combs' attorney, Jonathan Davis, called the allegations "baseless."

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He continued: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone," Davis said. "We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court."

Amid the allegations, pop star Kesha removed lyrics referencing Combs from her 2009 breakout song "Tik Tok," years after she filed a sexual assault lawsuit against producer Dr. Luke and navigated a lengthy legal battle against him — which included the producer countersuing her for defamation before the pair reached a resolution in June 2023.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.