
Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Prince Williams/WireimageSean “Diddy” Combs has filed a defamation suit against one of his accusers, their lawyer and NewsNation.
According to court documents obtained by Us WeeklyDiddy, 55, filed a lawsuit in New York against Courtney Burgess and his proxy Ariel Mitchell on Wednesday, January 22. Burgess previously testified before a federal grand jury against Didi, claiming there was evidence of an alleged “wacky” parties.
The filing also names Nexstar Media Inc., which operates NewsNation. Both Burgess and Mitchell appeared on the network’s program, Banfield, in November 2024 to discuss the allegations against Diddy. (The music mogul was behind bars from September 2024 after it was charges filed for sex trafficking and racketeering.)
The documents allege that Burgess and Mitchell fabricated “outrageous lies” against Diddy so they could “gain social media fame, enrich themselves and deprive Mr. Combs of his reputation, livelihood and right to a fair trial.” .
While appearing on NewsNation, Burgess claims to own 11 flash drives allegedly containing videos of eight celebrities, six men and two women. Burgess said “two to three” of the individuals were minors. In the January filing, Diddy accused Burgess of lying and claimed no such tape existed.
Didi — who is currently in jail like him awaiting trial scheduled for May 5 – seeks no less than $50 million in damages, including punitive damages, for the harm caused by the “false and defamatory statements.”

In the filings, Diddy claims the “malicious lies” perpetrated by Burgess, Mitchell and NewsNation caused him “significant reputational and economic harm.” In addition to the negativity on social media, Diddy claims that “intentionally false and defamatory claims have also poisoned the minds” of potential jurors for Diddy’s upcoming trial this year.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is taking a stand against the malicious lies that have been fabricated and spread by people who want to profit at his expense,” Diddy’s lawyer Erica Wolf it said in a statement. “These defendants willfully fabricated and propagated outrageous falsehoods with reckless disregard for the truth. Their lies poisoned public perception and infected the jury pool. This complaint should serve as a warning that such willful lies, which undermine Mr. Combs’ right to a fair trial, will no longer be tolerated.
Diddy’s legal troubles began last year when he was indicted by a grand jury in September 2024. He was subsequently arrested on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. A 14-page indictment alleges that Diddy “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him” for decades at his outrageous parties called “Freak-Offs.”
Diddy has repeatedly denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He remains locked up at the Brooklyn Detention Center after being denied bail on four separate appeals.