Allegations have surfaced from Dawn Richard, a former artist of Diddy, claiming he criticized her for being “too skinny” while simultaneously denying her requests for food and restricting her to drinking only shakes, as reported by In Touch.
In a federal lawsuit, the 41-year-old detailed her experiences working alongside the 54-year-old mogul, which began in 2004 when she was chosen for the girl group Danity Kane. According to Dawn, Diddy’s “disdain for women was evident” as he frequently exhibited aggressive and hostile behavior toward her and her all-female bandmates.
In response, Diddy’s attorney called the allegations false and suggested Richard fabricated them for publicity related to her album release
She noted that he routinely referred to them using derogatory terms and insulted their appearances, stating that Dawn needed to “do something about this [her face]” and was too thin.
She recounted that during her time with Danity Kane, Diddy “deprived” her and the other members of essential needs, including proper food and sleep. When they asked for meals or breaks, he would respond with harsh comments.
Dawn indicated that Diddy would often be awake for extended periods due to drug use. She added that during these times, “Diddy demanded constant access to [Dawn] and her bandmates, often compelling them to record and rehearse for 36 to 48 hours straight without any breaks.” Faced with the choice between eating and sleeping, Dawn reported a drastic weight loss, reaching about 100 pounds at 5’4″.
Dawn also mentioned that Diddy frequently sent associates to wake her and the other members during the night for rehearsals. The lawsuit states, “The frequency of these disturbances forced Ms. Richard to adapt by sleeping while sitting up, fully dressed, and with makeup on, increasing her anxiety.”
The relentless schedule of rehearsals and filming imposed by Diddy led her to suffer extreme weight loss, dehydration, fatigue, and painful rashes caused by the microphone pack she wore on her back. Danity Kane disbanded in 2009.
Continuing her collaboration with Diddy was financially necessary for Dawn. Following Danity Kane, he formed a new group, Dirty Money, which included Dawn and singer Kalenna Harper.
While with Dirty Money, Dawn claimed that Diddy continued his drug use, leading him to remain awake for long stretches. She noted that during his awake hours, he would demand that she and Kalenna record in the studio, often spending three to four consecutive days without breaks for food or sleep.
Dawn explained that Diddy would leave the studio but insisted she and Kalenna stay behind to write. Whenever she attempted to leave for food or rest, he would call and insist she return.
Despite criticizing her for being “too skinny,” he reportedly denied her requests for food and insisted that she consume only peanut butter shakes. The suit alleges that he would eat full meals prepared by a chef in front of her and Kalenna without offering them anything.
Dawn described begging for food and breaks, yet Diddy remained unyielding. This relentless work schedule led her to suffer from severe dehydration and chronic stomach cramps due to being undernourished and excessively thin.
According to the lawsuit, each time she expressed her health issues to Diddy, he dismissed her concerns and labeled her lazy, instilling further apprehension about voicing her needs. In 2010, Dawn faced health issues, including “abdominal pain, swollen glands, and a fever.”
She finally ended up hospitalized and was diagnosed with arthralgia, anemia, and a low white blood cell count. The lawsuit asserts that Dawn shared her medical records with Diddy, highlighting her need for proper nutrition, hydration, and rest.
Nevertheless, he ordered her to report to the studio for another multi-day recording session, disregarding her health and well-being. This blatant disregard solidified Dawn’s fear of his control over her career and health. In her lawsuit, she accused Diddy of sexual abuse along with several other claims.
In response to these allegations, Diddy’s attorney, Erica Wolff, expressed to In Touch, “Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. Dawn Richard has now fabricated a series of false claims in an effort to rewrite history, likely to coincide with her album release and press tour.
If her experiences with Making the Band and Danity Kane were truly negative, she wouldn’t have continued working with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album last year.
Unfortunately, Ms. Richard has chosen to prioritize monetary gain over their 20-year friendship, but Mr. Combs is confident in his truth and looks forward to proving it in court.” Kalenna also commented, stating, “Many of the allegations and incidents described in this suit do not reflect my experiences, and some do not align with my own truth.”
Just days later, Diddy was arrested on charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering, to which he pleaded not guilty. A judge subsequently denied his request for release on bond.
