Rap star Sean “Diddy” Combs is fighting “freak off” accusations in a defamation suit filed on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The rapper is suing NexStar Media, the parent company of NewsNation, Courtney Burgess and Attorney Ariel Mitchell for $50 million in damages.
Combs accused the defendants in the lawsuit of “fueling a media frenzy” and potentially tainting his presumption of innocence before a criminal trial in May.
NewsNation aired an interview with Burgess and Mitchell in October 2024. In the interview, Burgess told NewsNation Combs possessed videos of himself sexually assaulting minors in so-called “freak offs.”
Burgess said, he had 11 flash drives belonging to Combs and his late ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, which he said contained eight videos showing celebrities being sexually assaulted by Combs.
Burgess said that he turned the videos over to federal investigators.
Combs said in the lawsuit the videos were never turned over to investigators because they do not exist. He also said, in the lawsuit, NewsNation aired Burgess’ accusations without verifying whether they were true.
Combs’ legal team said the videos are a lie and Burgess and Mitchell’s “freak off” allegations are “poisoning the minds” of potential jurors in Combs’ upcoming trial.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and federal racketeering charges in September 2024.
Mitchell, Burgess and NexStar Media have not commented on the defamation suit filed by Combs against them.
