Sara Rivers, a singer who competed on Making the Band, has filed a $60 million lawsuit alleging she was sexually harassed by Sean “Diddy” Combs while filming the MTV reality series.
Rivers submitted the complaint in Manhattan federal court on Friday, Feb. 28, just before the deadline to pursue claims under New York’s Gender Motivated Violence Act.
The singer, formerly known as Sara Stokes, appeared on Making the Band in the early 2000s.
During that time, Diddy — then known as Puff Daddy — and his Bad Boy Records associates put together a hip-hop and R&B group called Da Band, made up of Rivers, Freddy P, Dylan Dilinjah, Chopper, Babs, and Ness.
Related: ‘Making the Band’ Star Freddy P Says He Witnessed Diddy Do Some ‘Wild S–t’
In her 148-page lawsuit obtained by People magazine, Rivers alleged Combs sexually harassed her, assaulted her by stroking her breasts without consent, and made her work under “inhumane” conditions, including forcing contestants to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn to get him cheesecake, which was shown on the series.
[The cheesecake walk is shown in the video above]
Rivers also alleged Combs made “physical threats to group members” and at times singled her out.
“Defendant Diddy was often times yelling and ridiculing Plaintiff, especially during times Plaintiff sought him out to redress issues she was facing in the group,” the suit claimed.
The singer additionally claimed she was “the only individual who Defendant Diddy scrutinized in such a sexual and humiliating manner,” alleging that the music mogul once looked at her rear end and told her “everything needed to get firmed up.”
Representatives for the Bad Boy Records founder denied the allegations in the lawsuit.
“This is yet another example of false claims being filed against Mr. Combs. No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason,” Diddy’s reps said in a statement to People.
“With the deadline for New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act expiring tomorrow, it’s clear that opportunists are rushing to file last-minute, meritless claims. Mr. Combs remains confident he will prevail in court,” the statement continued.
Rivers also named MTV Productions, several Bad Boy insiders, and others as defendants in the lawsuit. She is seeking a jury trial.
The singer is represented by Florida attorney Ariel Mitchell, who faces a $50 million defamation lawsuit filed by Combs in January.
Rivers first went public with her allegations against the mogul in the Peacock documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, which began streaming on Jan. 14.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to be around him unless there was cameras,” Rivers said in the film, before breaking down in tears.
Diddy has filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Peacock and parent company NBCUniversal over the documentary, alleging the 90-minute film “maliciously and baselessly jumps to the conclusion that Mr. Combs is a ‘monster’ and ‘an embodiment of Lucifer.’”
The mogul was arrested on Sept. 16, and faces three federal counts — racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Diddy remains jailed in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, after being denied bail by three separate federal judges. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.
He is also facing dozens of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse. But has denied all of the allegations.
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