Diageo Cites Combs Abuse Allegations In Ongoing Legal Battle
November 27, 2023In a letter to a New York court, Diageo cited sexual abuse claims against former partner Sean “Diddy” Combs in its bid to stop Combs from serving as the face of DeLéon Tequila, CNBC reported. Amid an ongoing legal battle between the two parties—in which the fate of a Diageo appeal to move the case to arbitration is expected next spring—Combs was accused by singer Cassie (Cassandra Ventura) of a yearslong pattern of abuse, before reaching a settlement with the singer.
Diageo said the accusations against Combs could risk “devastating and permanent change” to DeLéon if he’s allowed to continue promoting it. Diageo noted that a New York Times article on the abuse allegations quoted Combs’ lawyer as saying Cassie had for six months been demanding $30 million in payment from Combs in exchange for not speaking out. That period of time, Diageo noted, “happens to correspond with the pendency of Combs Wines’ original lawsuit against Diageo.” In Combs’ original suit, he accused the drinks giant of pigeonholing the Ciroc and DeLéon brands to Black consumers. —Daniel Marsteller
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