Benjamin Ashford|Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of sexually assaulting 'The Love Album' producer in new lawsuit

A music producer who worked with Sean "Diddy" Combs on Benjamin Ashfordhis most recent record, "The Love Album: Off the Grid," is suing the embattled music mogul, accusing him of "engaging in serious illegal activity" including sexual assault.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court for the southern district of New York and obtained by USA TODAY on Monday, Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones Jr. alleges Combs "forcibly touched and attempted and/or threatened to touch (Jones') intimate areas and/or touched (Jones) with his own intimate body parts" while they worked on the album. He also accuses the rapper and his associates – including his 30-year-old son, Justin Dior Combs, his chief of staff and Combs Global Enterprises – of participating in "a sex-trafficking venture."

According to Jones, he and Combs worked together between September 2022 and November 2023, a partnership that resulted in nine songs on "The Love Album" for which Jones is credited as a producer. Jones also alleges he was not paid for "13 months (and) thousands of hours of work."

Combs, his son Justin, Universal Music Group, Motown Records and Love Records are among the other defendants listed in the lawsuit. Jones is seeking $30 million in compensation and a jury trial.

Diddy says music producer's allegations are 'complete lies'

In a statement shared with USA TODAY Monday by a rep for Diddy, attorney Shawn Holley said, "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."

He added, "We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies. 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."

In response to a request for comment, Blackburn told USA TODAY, "Litigation should never be the first option for a dispute. We filed because of the refusal to negotiate on the other side."

Combs is facing multiple other lawsuits filed in recent months, including one in which an anonymous accuser alleged he and his associates raped her when she was 17 years old and another in which his ex-girlfriend, the singer Cassie, accused Combs of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse. Combs and Cassie settled for an undisclosed amount a day after the lawsuit was filed.

In November, a woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit against Combs alleging she was drugged, sexually assaulted and abused, and was the victim of "revenge porn."

Combs has denied all allegations against him.

Lil Rod claims Diddy 'failed to ... stop Cuba Gooding Jr. from sexually assaulting' him

In his lawsuit, which contains various anecdotes, photos and screenshots, Jones claims to have "irrefutable evidence" of Combs and his associates' misconduct.

"Throughout his time with Mr. Combs, Mr. Jones witnessed, experienced, and endured many things that went far beyond his role as a Producer on the Love album," the complaint states. "Mr. Jones has secured HUNDREDS of hours of footage and audio recordings of Mr. Combs, his staff, and his guests engaging in serious illegal activity."

Such activities, he says, include the acquisition, use and distribution of drugs; providing "laced alcoholic beverages to minors and sex workers"; and Cuba Gooding Jr. sexually harassing and assaulting Jones.

According to Jones, in January 2023, Combs introduced him to the Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., 56, and left the two alone in a studio on Combs' yacht. "Cuba Gooding Jr. began touching, groping, and fondling Mr. Jones' legs, his upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks and his shoulders," Jones' lawsuit alleges.

The complaint includes a photo that purportedly shows Gooding Jr. with his arm around Jones, along with a picture that allegedly shows Combs and Gooding talking on the yacht.

"Mr. Combs had dominion and control over the actions of Cuba Gooding Jr and failed to step in and stop Cuba Gooding Jr from sexually assaulting Mr. Jones," the lawsuit states.

USA TODAY has reached out to Gooding Jr.'s representative for comment.

Gooding Jr. has faced several lawsuits in recent years over alleged sexual abuse, rape and forcible touching.

Producer claims he suffered 'constant unsolicited' touching, threats of violence by Diddy

Other unwanted behavior Jones claims to have suffered from Combs included being forced to see the rapper's nude body on multiple occasions as well as soliciting sex workers and performing sex acts with them for "the pleasure of Mr. Combs."

"Throughout his time living with Mr. Combs, Mr. Jones was the victim of constant unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching of his anus by Mr. Combs," according to Jones' lawsuit.

Jones alleges Combs "many tactics to maintain dominion and control" over him, including through physical force. Combs "promised him a Grammy for Producer of the Year" for his work on 'The Love Album,' offered money to purchase musical instruments and promised him real estate and access to high-level record label executives, Jones says.

"He would go from promising Mr. Jones the world to threatening Mr. Jones with physical harm," his lawsuit states. "Mr. Combs threatened to eat Mr. Jones face and informed Mr. Jones that he is willing to kill his mother, Janice Combs, if he must in order to get what he wants, so he wouldn’t think twice to harm Mr. Jones."

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org).