Audio By Carbonatix
Universal Music Group and Lucian Grainge have been dropped from Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones' sexual abuse lawsuit against Diddy.
Per Billboard, UMG and its CEO were dismissed from the lawsuit Jones filed in February, which alleged that the company and Grainge "aided and abetted" in abuse perpetuated by the embattled Bad Boy Records founder. Attorneys for UMG argued the accusations against the company were "offensively false" and would seek legal penalties against Jones' lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn.
On Monday, Blackburn said he had "concluded that there is no legal basis for the claims and allegations that were made against the UMG defendants."
He asked for the two parties to be dropped from the lawsuit immediately. Donald Zakarin, lead attorney for UMG, agreed with Blackburn's sworn declaration.
"As we have repeatedly said from our very first communication with counsel for the plaintiff on March 4, 2024, there was no basis, not legal and not factual, for the claims and accusations that were alleged," Zakarin wrote in a court filing on Tuesday. "The UMG defendants should never have been named in any of these complaints and we should never have been required to make motions to dismiss the complaints in this action."
In a post shared on Instagram, Diddy seemingly responded with an image that reads, "Time tells truth."
When Billboard reached Blackburn for comment, he accused journalist Bill Donahue of being "a mouthpiece" for Combs' attorney Shawn Holley.
Jones, a former producer and videographer for Diddy, claimed in the lawsuit that Combs and several of his associates sexually assaulted him. Other defendants include Diddy's son Justin Combs, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Kristina Khorram, Chalice Recording Studios, Love Records, Motown Records, and Combs Global Enterprises.
Cuba Gooding Jr. is also named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit. In a recent interview with Patrick Bet-David, the actor denied the accusations. "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 told Bet-David. "We were acquaintances, just like I just showed you. Two–three times I’ve seen him."
Latest Stories
-
Gideon Boako to sponsor eye surgery for 35 Tano North constituents
48 seconds -
Ayawaso East by-election: ‘Certified International Election Observer’ Koku Anyidoho applauds voting arrangements
20 minutes -
Today’s Front Pages: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
1 hour -
Gov’t to issue long-dated domestic bonds following expiration of DDEP restrictions – Dep Finance Minister
1 hour -
From communities to classrooms: Hearing care for all children-2026
1 hour -
Buffer Stock CEO tours schools and warehouses in Eastern Region
2 hours -
Are we tying down growth? – Finance professor flags on gold reserve policy
2 hours -
Lands Minister endorses Petroleum Hub Project to generate sustainable employment opportunities
2 hours -
Government to build 600 new basic schools to end ‘Schools Under Trees’
2 hours -
Kumasi Mayor vows to keep Kejetia Market free from highly inflammable materials
2 hours -
Gov’t to open enrolment for affordable homes under National Homeownership Fund
3 hours -
Cashew farmers remind Mahama to fulfil promise to establish Cashew Development Board
3 hours -
National Ambulance Service moves to acquire 400 new ambulances and 500 motorbikes
3 hours -
Gov’t urges Ghanaian pilgrims to defer travel over Middle East tensions
3 hours -
Ghana to create the largest converging centre for mineral discussions
3 hours
