Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ youngest accuser Thalia Graves has broken her silence about the alleged attack and the trauma she continues to suffer.
“I suffer from PTSD, depression and anxiety. I am emotionally scarred,” Graves said during a press conference on Tuesday, September 24, hosted by the New York Post“I found it difficult to trust others, form healthy relationships, or feel confident in my own skin. Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts make me feel like it’s a constant struggle.”
She admitted that the alleged assault in 2001 had severely affected her mental health and continued to cause her distress.
“It’s a pain that goes deep into my heart and leaves emotional scars that may never fully heal,” Graves said, wiping tears from her eyes. “Some of the worst aspects of that pain are the shame and guilt I’ve felt, which negatively impact my ability to function properly on a daily basis.”
Celebrities are speaking out about the recent arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs. The music mogul was taken into custody in New York on September 16. The following day, a 14-page indictment was released alleging that Diddy “abused, threatened and coerced women and others in his circle.” The rapper has since pleaded not guilty (…)
As her lawyer Gloria Allred Sitting next to her, Graves said she was “glad” that Diddy, 54, was in prison, noting it was “a temporary feeling of relief.”
We weekly has asked Diddy’s team for comment.
Sherman, for his part, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that he “does not know” Graves and claimed that her allegations were only about “making money.”
“I have never seen this woman,” he claimed to the outlet. “I don’t have any video of her like she claims. I have never seen her. I have never done anything with her. I don’t know anything about any of this. I don’t even know this woman.”
The bodyguard also claimed that he had “no relationship whatsoever” with Diddy.
We weekly confirmed on Tuesday that Graves has filed a lawsuit against Diddy and his security chief Joseph Shermanand claimed they raped her in 2001.
Graves claims in court documents obtained by Us She was 25 years old when the singer lured her to a meeting with him and Sherman. She claimed that she was then given a drink that was “probably laced with a drug that eventually caused her to briefly lose consciousness.”
Graves claimed that when she woke up, she was tied up and Diddy and Sherman were allegedly sexually assaulting her. In November 2023, she claimed, she learned that the men had filmed her “gruesome rape” and shown it to others.
Diddy has not yet commented on the lawsuit, but is currently in jail. On September 17, he was charged with conspiracy to commit organized crime, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
The 14-page indictment states: “Combs relied on the people, resources and influence of the multifaceted business empire he ran and controlled – creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in or attempted to engage in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, among other things.” Some of the allegations date back to 2009.
Years before two of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes were raided in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation, there were talks about what went on inside the rapper’s apartments. After the raid made headlines in March 2024, a clip resurfaced in which Usher recalled his experience living with Diddy as a teenager. “I had the chance to (…)
Before his arrest, Diddy was accused of sexually abusing his on-and-off girlfriend. Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura) for years. Cassie, 38, claimed in November 2023 that Diddy often made her take drugs during their relationship and allegedly forced her to have sex with male prostitutes on camera. She also claimed that Diddy sexually assaulted her in 2018 after forcibly gaining entry to her home.
A day after the lawsuit made headlines, Diddy settled out of court. “I have decided to settle this matter amicably, under conditions where I have some degree of control,” Cassie said Us by your lawyer Douglas Wigdor at the time. “I would like to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
As for the current charges, Diddy pleaded not guilty on September 17 before being denied bail twice. He will remain in jail until his trial.
Diddy’s attorney released a statement on Monday, September 23, noting that his team is “disappointed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s decision to pursue what we believe is an unjustified prosecution of Mr. Combs.”
The statement continued: “He is not a perfect person, but he is not a criminal. To Mr. Combs’ credit, he has been consistently cooperative with this investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve judgment until you know all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man who has nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Paras Griffin/Getty Images While Sean “Diddy” Combs vehemently denies the rape and assault allegations made by his ex-girlfriend Cassie, several women have come forward with similar allegations of alleged misconduct by the music mogul. Us Weekly confirmed in November 2023 that Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura) has filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape and repeated physical (…).
Graves’ attorney Allred, meanwhile, said in her press conference on Tuesday: “We want justice for her and look forward to getting it. It is long overdue that those who caused her pain are held accountable.” Allred added that she represents other alleged victims of Diddy, but declined to provide further details.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
