Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal troubles have led to shocking revelations about his fast-paced lifestyle and famous friends. In February, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a lawsuit accusing the Bad Boy founder of sexual harassment. In March, following Homeland Security’s raids on two of Combs’ homes, Jones amended the lawsuit to add Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. as a co-defendant.
In the court documents, he alleges that during an incident on Diddy’s yacht, the rapper/producer introduced Jones to the “Jerry Maguire” star and suggested the actor “get to know” him better. Jones alleges that while he and Gooding Jr. were alone in a studio on the yacht, the actor “began touching, groping, and fondling Mr. Jones’ legs, his upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks and his shoulders.”
“He rejected his advances and Mr. Gooding Jr. did not stop until Mr. Jones forcibly pushed him away,” the court documents state.
During a recent appearance on the “PBD Podcast,” when host Patrick Bet-David asked about his reaction to the Diddy controversy and the allegations against him, he explained that the “Last Night” artist was just an acquaintance and that he was on the rapper’s yacht for a very short time on the evening of the alleged incident.
“I went from one ship, ‘Happy New Year,’” he said. “So I hung out with Tyson, next ship there’s Drake. This ship had P. Diddy, he had his guy, his videographer. They’re listening to music. He says, ‘Hey Cuba, you want to hear P. Diddy’s new song?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure!’ Sit down next to him.”
He also took out his phone to show Bet-David his versions of the photos included in the lawsuit, which he stated featured the rest of the party, not just he and Jones. As for his reaction to the alleged investigation and accusations against Diddy, he called the situation “crazy.”
“I think, whatever he’s dealing with...He’s on his journey, man,” Gooding Jr. said. “I can’t imagine that he’s stupid enough to do whatever he’s doing and keep it on his premises. I think that the raid and all of that stuff, only time will tell who was involved, who had been a frequent guest in these places and areas. It’s funny, because my lawyers said, ‘You know, every outlet in the world wants to talk to you.’ And again, I’m not defining myself from some headline in the press, so I stayed quiet.”
“This guy who’s suing him [is] going after the money, man. I’m sure, and by the way, I don’t know P. Diddy’s life. I don’t know what he’s going through,” he continued. “We were acquaintances, just like I just showed you. Two–three times I’ve seen him.”
The “Boyz in the Hood” actor believes that his previous legal issues are part of the reason he’s been named in this lawsuit. In 2019, Gooding Jr. was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women who alleged that he groped them in New York City nightclubs. He was criminally charged and eventually pleaded guilty to forcible touching in April 2022.