Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently facing a lawsuit filed by Michigan inmate Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith. The American producer has been ordered by Lenawee County Circuit Judge Anna Marie Anzalone to pay $100 million judgment for failing to show up to the virtual hearing of the case on Monday, September 9.
Cardello-Smith allegedly accused Combs of drugging and s*xually assaulting him during a 1997 Detroit party, according to the Detroit Metro Times. He filed the claim and provided documentation that featured Combs' name in a visitation record from the prison.
As the news went public, netizens took to Instagram to express their opinions.
"Having to pay 100 million because you didn't bother to respond to a lawsuit is insane," an Instagram user wrote.
Some netizens criticized the Bad Boy Records founder for missing the court date, whereas others called out his followers for supporting an "abuser." Some even joked that after this, he would be broke.
However, some Instagram users showed him support and asked others not to "bully" him.
Apart from Diddy, Cardello-Smith also sued several well-known defendants in addition. In another case, he accused the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit of s*xually abusing him between 1979 and 1993, when he was approximately seven years old.
Diddy has recently faced a lawsuit of $100 million
As per Variety, Cardello-Smith met Combs at a restaurant in the Detroit area where he was employed. The former claimed Diddy invited him to an afterparty where he engaged in s*xual activity with a group of women. He further said that he passed out after drinking a glass of alcohol offered by Diddy, which was purportedly drugged.
When he woke up, he claimed to have seen Combs engaging in s*xual activity with a woman.
“I did this to you too," Combs allegedly told Cardello-Smith.
As per the Guardian, Cardello-Smith further stated that in August 2024, Combs made him an offer to drop the lawsuit for $2.3 million, but he turned it down and vowed to continue the legal battle.
After this, as Diddy failed to show up in court on Monday, Judge Anzalone granted a default judgment in favor of Cardello-Smith. However, as per Variety, Marc Agnifilo, Combs' lawyer, reportedly denied his client's acquaintanceship with the plaintiff. He went on to refute Cardello-Smith's testimony, saying,
“This man is a convicted felon and s*xual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of s*xual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years. His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed."
As per Variety, Diddy's sources have claimed that the lawsuit's documentation was delivered to an invalid address and was not promptly received by Combs' team.
Starting on October 1, the judge outlined a $10 million monthly payment schedule. Furthermore, Judge Anna Marie Anzalone issued an order prohibiting Combs from selling assets that might be used to pay for any damages that might be awarded.
As per to court documents obtained by Variety, Cardello-Smith was found guilty on several counts of criminal s*xual misconduct and one count of kidnapping. As a result, he is currently detained at the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility.