Diddy’s former bodyguard sues rape accuser for defamation over 2001 assault allegations

a named guard In a case in September claiming to be his own and Sean “Diddy” Combs A woman who was “brutally raped” in 2001 is now suing her accuser for defamation and emotional distress.

Joseph Sherman sued Thalia Graves in New York federal court on Friday, with his attorneys calling Graves’ allegations “completely false and untrue,” according to a filing reviewed by USA TODAY. They alleged that he had been working with Combs in 1999, years before the incidents in which he allegedly worked for Combs. Graves’ case.

In the lawsuit, Sherman’s attorneys said Graves and his legal team tried to “blackmail him,” adding that Graves and his attorneys “made outrageous, disgusting, and life-altering statements with no regard for the truth.” They continued: “Joseph Sherman never met Thalia Graves, let alone raped her.”

According to his filing, Sherman “continues to suffer serious reputational damage, emotional distress and financial harm” as a result of Graves’ lawsuit. He also accuses Graves of sending messages and asking him to “give false testimony against Sean Combs” in exchange for being excluded from legal proceedings.

Graves’ attorney declined to comment. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Combs and Sherman for comment.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and his ex-wife The bodyguard was accused of drugging and raping a woman in 2001

Thalia Graves’ lawsuit accuses former bodyguard Joseph Sherman Diddy of drugging and raping her

Graves filed the lawsuit in September in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY at the time.

In her complaint, Graves said she was dating one of Combs’ employees at the time and alleged that Combs and Sherman were drugged, tied up and raped at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City in the summer of 2001. He asked for help from the court. He was charged with gender-based violence and violating New York law for allegedly recording and sharing footage of the attack.

Graves held press conference with famous lawyer lawyer Gloria Allredafter filing his lawsuit. An emotional Graves appeared to regain his composure before making the statement.

“The internal pain after being sexually assaulted was incredibly deep and difficult to put into words,” Graves said through tears. “This goes beyond the physical harm caused by the attack and that occurred during the attack.”

In November 2023, Graves learned that Combs and Sherman had recorded the alleged assault on him, according to his lawsuit. She claimed they showed the footage to “multiple men who wanted to publicly humiliate and humiliate both (Graves) and her boyfriend” and also sold it as pornography.

Graves claimed that when she reached out to Sherman to persuade him to destroy the sex tape or give it to her, Sherman did not respond.

As compensation, Graves is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as an injunction requiring Combs and Sherman to destroy all copies and images of the alleged sexual assault video and refrain from distributing the images in the future.

Graves’ lawsuit is among nearly 30 civil lawsuits applied last year Those who accused Combs of sexual and physical assault, sex trafficking, battery and gender discrimination, among other allegations. He maintained his innocence in all of these cases and in September. He did not admit his guilt Criminal charges for racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, RAIN Offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy’s ex-bodyguard sues rape accuser for defamation