Accuser in Diddy Sexual Assault Case Allegedly Retains Unwashed Clothes from 2003 Incident in Sealed Bag, Lawsuit Reveals.
The embattled rapper faces new accusations from Crystal McKinney. The former model alleges she was drugged and assaulted in Diddy’s NYC studio, claiming he subsequently ‘blackballed’ her from the industry, devastating her career.
In a recent lawsuit, Crystal McKinney, a former model who accused Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexual assault, revealed that she retained the unwashed clothes worn on the night of the alleged attack. McKinney claimed she kept the garments wrapped in a plastic bag for over two decades following the 2003 incident, where she alleges to have been drugged and assaulted by Combs. According to the lawsuit filed in New York this week, McKinney asserted that she met Diddy under the pretense of advancing her modeling career but was instead given marijuana and alcohol before being coerced into performing oral sex on the rapper.
McKinney stated that she feels Diddy ‘blacklisted’ her from the industry after the incident, leading to the collapse of her career, and ultimately prompting a suicide attempt in 2004.
McKinney initially gained prominence as a model at the age of 17, winning MTV’s inaugural ‘Model Mission’ beauty pageant in 1998. Her early achievements led to an invitation to a Men’s Fashion Week event in New York City in 2003, where, according to her lawsuit, she was directed to Diddy to advance her career. Mentioning an individual referred to as ‘the designer’ in the legal document, she asserted they facilitated her meeting with the rapper and orchestrated a complete makeover to impress him, which included new hair extensions and a transformation to ‘platinum blonde’, along with a striking ensemble that she claims she still possesses over two decades later.
As outlined in the lawsuit, McKinney stated that the designer outfitted her in ‘a black leather coat with a fur hood, a sheer chiffon beige v-neck blouse, a fur-lined handbag, and jeweled jeans.’ She retained these garments “due to the traumatic events that followed,” and they were never laundered before being stored “in her closet, where they remain wrapped in plastic.” According to her account, she was escorted to meet Diddy at the Cipriani Downtown restaurant in Manhattan earlier in the evening, where he was dining and socializing with others, including the designer. The lawsuit detailed that once seated, Combs openly made suggestive advances towards McKinney throughout the dinner, repeatedly refilling her wine glass.
According to the lawsuit, Diddy purportedly boasted about his influence in the fashion industry and whispered to McKinney that she was destined for success in her career, with his conduct described as ‘flirtatious, verging on leering.’ Following their departure from the restaurant, McKinney stated that the rapper instructed her to contact him later, leading to a rendezvous at his studio in Midtown Manhattan that same night. Upon her arrival, McKinney alleged finding Diddy indulging in alcohol and marijuana with friends, and she joined them. Despite feeling intoxicated from both substances, McKinney asserted she expressed her desire to stop, but Diddy allegedly persisted in offering her more. The lawsuit further claimed that at a certain point, Diddy ushered McKinney into a secluded area, where he allegedly coerced her into performing oral sex despite her protests, leaving her feeling ‘panicked and physically unwell.
The model recounted losing consciousness at the studio and regaining awareness in the back of a taxi en route to the designer’s apartment. Subsequent to the ordeal, McKinney claimed witnessing her career ‘rapidly decline and ultimately vanish,’ attributing it to what she perceives as Diddy ‘blacklisting’ her. She disclosed attempting suicide in 2004 following the alleged incident, and enduring persistent reminders over the years as Diddy remained ‘an omnipresent figure in music, television, and film.’
The filing of the lawsuit adds to the ongoing series of controversies and legal conflicts surrounding the troubled rapper, who reportedly reacted with disbelief to the recent release of surveillance footage depicting him assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The footage prompted widespread condemnation, leading Diddy to release an apology video acknowledging his wrongdoing. Additionally, his properties in Florida and California were reportedly raided by federal agents as part of an investigation into human trafficking allegations. Despite the accusations, the rapper maintains his innocence and has not been formally charged.
