Sean “Diddy” Combs has upgraded his defamation suit against Courtney Burgess, his attorney Ariel Mitchell, and NewsNation’s parent company, Nexstar. The legal action is a significant escalation of a previous $50 million lawsuit – and alleges that the defendants deliberately fabricated and broadcast false claims about Combs for their own profit.
The lawsuit centers on statements Burgess and Mitchell made during separate interviews on NewsNation. Hypebeast.com and several other outlets claim that court documents say Burgess, who Combs’ team claims he has never met, alleged he was given flash drives containing videos of Combs engaged in sexual assault with celebrities and minors. Combs’ legal team asserts that these tapes are completely fabricated and that the defendants’ claims were made with a “reckless disregard for the truth.”
The lawsuit, originally filed for $50 million, was amended to $100 million in damages. Combs’ attorneys reportedly argued this increase is warranted due to the “severe reputational harm” caused by the statements, which they claim led to a “media frenzy” that has tainted public perception and jeopardized his right to a fair trial.