Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has launched a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Nexstar Media Inc. (NewsNation), Courtney Burgess, and attorney Ariel Mitchell. The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, alleges that the defendants fabricated claims and fueled baseless speculation about Diddy's involvement in non-existent sex tapes featuring him and other celebrities. Diddy's legal team asserts that these accusations have significantly damaged his reputation and interfered with his right to a fair trial.

The lawsuit claims that Burgess falsely asserted possession of these incriminating videos and repeatedly shared this misinformation with media outlets, including NewsNation. Diddy’s lawyer, Erica Wolff, stated that the defendants' actions have “poisoned public perception and contaminated the jury pool.” The legal complaint emphasizes that such deliberate falsehoods will not be tolerated.

The lawsuit further alleges that Mitchell, Burgess's attorney, was aware of the claims' falsity or acted recklessly by failing to verify them. It contends that Mitchell’s repeated assertions about the existence of these videos were either knowingly false or a result of neglecting to investigate her client’s claims.

This defamation lawsuit comes after Diddy was indicted on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges, and his trial is scheduled to begin in May. The prosecution anticipates their case will last three weeks, while Diddy's defense team estimates needing one week.