NEW YORK (AP) — If truth has the power to set one free, then Rapsody’s new album, “Please Don’t Cry,” has removed her from emotional imprisonment and gifted her immeasurable liberation.

“People put up a mirror for me. I sat in the mirror myself … it was the beginning of healing. Heart-broke: Why do you feel like you can’t fill the void of whatever that was? Internally, why do you feel underappreciated?” questioned the three-time Grammy nominee. “And really allow myself, again, to just sit in a fire and burn. To forgive myself for some things. To accept some things. To learn to love myself.”

Rapsody’s not only frequently lauded by critics as the best female lyricist, but also as one of the best in the genre. After 2019’s critically-acclaimed “Eve” album, discussions by hip-hop purists erupted on social media and in barbershops near and far debating her potentially rivaling Kendrick Lamar for the lyrical throne. But the recognition hasn’t translated into the commercial success of some female peers — veterans like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, or recent newcomers like Megan Thee Stallion, Latto or Ice Spice. But her plight isn’t unusual for rappers labeled as “continuous” or extremely lyrical, regardless of gender.

“I was looking at what everybody else was doing instead of worrying about myself,” she said, soft-spoken throughout the interview. “I’d see comments (saying), ‘She makes great music, but she’ll never make it because she’s not half-naked or she don’t have a No. 1 hit.’ And I had to realize that those are really false measurements.”

“Please Don’t Cry,” released in May, is by far the most personal of her four studio albums. Dwindling more than 350 potential songs down to the final 22 tracks, the bulk of the production comes from HIT-BOY, BLK ODYSSY and S1, and boasts star-powered features including Erykah Badu and Lil Wayne. The regal voice of Phylicia Rashad is also sprinkled throughout.

The North Carolina native began constructing the album several years ago after a painful breakup and toward the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic. Personal tales have always lived within her music, but the foundation of her catalogue is anchored by expert lyricism and musicality.

“I’ve always thought that I was authentic. But at the same time, I realized there was a level of fear there — a fear of allowing myself to be seen completely. But at that time, I don’t even think I completely even knew who I was,” said the 41-year-old Marlanna Evans who kept Lauryn Hill’s “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” project in heavy rotation while creating, along with an evolving Pinterest board filled with pictures and words for inspiration.

“Please Don’t Cry” has a weightier R&B influence than past projects. Standout tracks include the Badu-assisted “3:AM,” the lead single “Asteroids,” “Stand Tall,” “Faith” and “God’s Light.” While her razor-sharp bars still slice on songs like “Raw” with Lil Wayne and Niko Brim, the album makes its mark by entering a new territory of unapologetic vulnerability. Rapsody touches on insecurities, not having a stronger female fanbase, family members battling dementia and speculation surrounding her sexuality.

On the surprisingly transparent “That One Time,” the past Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole collaborator provides a rare glimpse into her love life and past transgressions.

“One time, I had an experience with a woman. But I also bring up that I was with somebody that wasn’t available,” said the Jehovah’s Witness-raised artist of her relationship with a married person, while suggesting her partner wasn’t fully honest. “I make mistakes, too — things I say I would never do, and then I find myself in a situation that I’m not proud of. But in my life and the conversations I have, I know I’m not the only one.”

Bianca Edwards, vice president of marketing for Roc Nation, says the vulnerability displayed showcases Rapsody’s security in her music and herself.

“You have to be extremely confident to bare your soul and not care what people think,” said Edwards. “And on this project, I think that she bared a lot.”

Always advocating for female rappers, Rapsody has consistently rejected praise meant to criticize her peers. But while there are songs like “Look What You’ve Done” in which she rhymes, “Don’t lift me up throwin’ shade/At my sisters that made it out wit’ a– and bass,” she also raps, “Everything look cookie cutter/We seen enough a—, that sh– ain’t special no more” on “Diary of a Mad Bitch.”

“I see my name brought up a lot of times used to put other women down for how they choose to show up in this art and in their life, and I’m not here for that. I’m not trying to make myself the standard. I’m just trying to make myself another example of what women in hip-hop look like to bring harmony,” said Rapsody. “With ‘Diary,’ it was me making an observation of everybody looks the same … I know we’re not clones.”

But despite a profession where cosmetic enhancements are common among female rappers — along with sexually-charged lyrics that contribute to their pop stardom — the “Complexion (A Zulu Love)” artist says she’s never considered altering her body.

“My question is why isn’t there space for me or others who are different from what we see on a mainstream level … why don’t we get those same opportunities?” asked the self-described tomboy who also suffers from Graves’ disease which can change physical appearance. “I never wanted to be anything other than who I was.”

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Rapsody says while every artist dreams of creating a hit record, she’s not willing to compromise her musical integrity or chase songs that don’t feel natural to attract more fans.

“I think she already found her place,” said Edwards. “I work with a lot of artists, and I’ve met artists that are still trying to find themselves. That’s not Rap.”

A tour will launch in September with five European dates and a North American leg that will run through October.

“Please Don’t Cry” has fortified Rapsody’s healing journey, and she’s better for it.

“Everybody asks me about this album, like ‘How you feeling?’ I say I feel really happy and I’m at peace. And this is the most free I’ve ever felt,” she said. “I’m not putting pressure on myself to be defined as success through other people’s measurements of what that looks like.”

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The Crypto.com Arena was electrified tonight as three of the top four picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft showcased their immense talent before a record-setting crowd. A remarkable 19,103 fans, the largest home crowd in LA Sparks’ franchise history, gathered to witness Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson in action during the Sparks’ game against the Indiana Fever.

In an exhilarating matchup, the Indiana Fever secured their first win of the season, defeating the LA Sparks 78-73. The game highlighted the prowess of the league’s newest stars, each leaving a significant mark on the court.

Caitlin Clark, the #1 overall pick, continued her impressive rookie campaign, becoming the first player from the 2024 draft class to reach 100 career points. Clark also notched the first double-double of her class with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, showcasing her all-around skill in her 37 minutes on the floor.

Rickea Jackson, the #4 pick, demonstrated her scoring efficiency, tallying 16 points on 5-7 shooting in just 21 minutes of play. Jackson’s performance underscored her potential as a key offensive weapon for the Sparks.

Cameron Brink, the #2 pick, contributed significantly on both ends of the court. Brink scored 15 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots in 26 minutes. Her defensive prowess was on full display, reinforcing her candidacy for the Defensive Player of the Year award—a feat not achieved by a rookie since Yolanda Griffith in 1999. Brink’s early season averages of 3.25 blocks and 1.5 steals per game emphasize her defensive impact.

Despite the loss, the Sparks have reason to be optimistic about their future, having drafted two potential superstars. The chemistry and talent displayed by these rookies suggest a promising trajectory for the team.

Tonight’s game was more than just a contest; it was a celebration of the next generation of WNBA talent. Fans left the arena buzzing about the performances of Clark, Brink, and Jackson, each of whom demonstrated why they were top picks in this year’s draft.

Watch the full highlights from the LA Sparks vs. Indiana Fever Below:

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In news that can only be described as “mm-mm, get somebody else to do it,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is on the defensive when it comes to President Joe Biden and his actions — or lack thereof — towards the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.

While fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday, Jean-Pierre was asked why the president has yet to take unilateral action to resolve the immigration issue at the border. Clearly exasperated, Jean-Pierre insisted that the solution shouldn’t just be set solely on the shoulders of the Commander-In-Chief.

“Why should he have to do unilaterally? Why should we have to do it in a legislative way?” she responded, before further adding: “You’re right, he took many executive actions before. But in order to deal with what’s happening at the border, in order to deal with a broken integration system—you need law.”

However, in a statement released from the White House on Thursday, it seems as if Biden’s attempt to solidify some sort of resolution was blocked by congressional Republicans.

“Congressional Republicans do not care about securing the border or fixing America’s broken immigration system. If they did, they would have voted for the toughest border enforcement in history. Instead, today, they put partisan politics ahead of our country’s national security,” the statement began.

It continued:

By blocking the bipartisan border agreement, Republicans in Congress said no to legislation that would hire more Border Patrol Agents, add more immigration judges and asylum officers to process cases in months and not years. They said no to new technology to detect and stop fentanyl from entering the United States, and no to resources to go after drug traffickers. They rejected an agreement that would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when the system is overwhelmed.

This agreement would have also expanded access to lawful immigration pathways proven to reduce irregular migration, expedited access to work authorization for those who are eligible, and ensured that unaccompanied children who arrive at the border have access to legal counsel. While it did not include everything I wanted, such as finally delivering a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, it would have been the largest reform of our immigration laws in decades.

 
“So I want to be absolutely clear: while Congressional Republicans are choosing to stand in the way of border enforcement, I will not stop fighting to deliver the resources that border and immigration personnel need,” Biden concluded.

“If you believe, as I do, that we need reform now, doing nothing is not an option. We must make our border more secure and we must make sure the United States remains a beacon of hope and opportunity. Today and every day, I remain committed to taking action to address our broken immigration system.”

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

Sean Combs is a monster.

That is the only logical conclusion for anyone who has read the numerous lawsuits against him and watched the recent video showing him brutally abusing his former girlfriend, singer Cassie, in a hotel hallway as she tried to escape him. 

She was trying to escape him. She was trying to escape him. She was trying to escape him.

I have to stress the fact that she was in the process of trying to get away from him when he caught up to her at a bank of elevators, beat her, dragged her and forced her to return to his hotel room. 

Since the filing of her lawsuit and the subsequent release of its details, many have questioned and continue to question why she didn’t just leave. 

She tried. He stopped her. 

This is important to remember when you consider the video “apology” her abuser, Sean Combs, released last week, claiming the incident occurred during a “dark time” in his life. 

Combs claims to have gone through therapy, ostensibly doing the work to become a better person. 

Sean Combs is a liar, and that video was a glaring example of the same DARVO behavior he has engaged in from the very beginning and continues to engage in as every new lawsuit comes to light. 

Sean Combs is a serial abuser, a manipulator and a gaslighter, and his fake apology shows us that he’s not remorseful; he’s regretful, and there’s a huge difference between the two. 

If Sean Combs were actually remorseful, when Cassie’s lawsuit was initially announced, he would not have made a public statement calling her a liar and saying she was just after his money. 

A person who is actually doing the work to be better would have acknowledged the harm he had done; that’s what people who are remorseful do. He would have attempted to try to make amends for his actions in whatever way Cassie was willing to accept because that’s what remorseful people do. 

Remorse is reflective and takes into account the feelings of the person who was harmed. Remorse requires a level of self-awareness that would allow Sean Combs to see the harm he has done and spur him to not repeat that harm — either against Cassie or anyone else for that matter. 

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With the number of lawsuits accusing Combs of the same type of behavior over and over again, we know that this is a sick pattern of behavior that has gone unchecked for years. 

Each time a lawsuit is filed, he – through his attorneys – tells the same lie over and over again, gaslights his victims and pretends to be a victim himself. He pretends to be the target of some sinister plot to take him down and take all of his money instead of being what he is — a man who is not used to hearing” no” and who has been repeatedly enabled by those around him who want proximity to his shine, access to his riches, and the benefit of being in his circle. 

That makes all of them monsters, too. 

Abuse of the type Cassie endured does not exist in a vacuum. It’s not a one-off thing. It’s something Combs likely has done for years as he has wielded his power in the entertainment industry over those who just simply want their shot at fame and stardom. 

Every story that has come out has included some form of Combs promising to help the victim’s career. His victims are people who have looked up to him, viewed him as aspirational, and recognized his ability to make or break them in the entertainment industry, and he has taken full advantage of that, leveraging it as a means of grooming his victims into letting him have his way with them. 

That’s nasty work — emphasis on nasty. 

His hollow “apology” was full of regret, and that regret is not for his actions; he regrets that his open secret is now on the Summer Jam screen. It’s no longer just being  whispered and joked about on the internet, in gossip columns and among people in the industry who have “known all along” but have been either too cowardly or too intimidated to speak up on it. 

He regrets that this coming out in the way that it has and with the speed that it has could possibly lead to a “Surviving Sean Combs” moment much in the same way R. Kelly got his reckoning. 

Sean Combs deserves to be taken down. He should be taken down. 

Thursday, Cassie posted the following statement on her Instagram account:

Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet,” Ventura wrote in a post shared on Instagram. “The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning.

Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.

My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in,” Ventura wrote. “I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone.

This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me.

Cassie is doing the work. She is working on healing. She understands that it is an ongoing process and not a quick fix. 

Sean Combs should learn something from that. 

It cannot be stated enough that neither Cassie nor any of the other victims should have to repeatedly relive their trauma and see it splashed across headline after headline in order for Sean Combs – who is allegedly “the man” – to own his behavior and make a concerted effort to not be a horrible monster. 

Who am I kidding though?

This is hip-hop where abusers have their transgressions overlooked all the time and get schools and Grammy Awards named after them while their victims continue to suffer for years after the fact and often never get justice. 

This is hip-hop where people see these things happening all the time but don’t speak up until a rap beef is involved and the transgressions become fodder to humiliate the abuser rather than seek justice for the victims. 

This is hip-hop where women are the punchline. 

Sean Combs has quite literally been a bad boy. 

I hope he gets what’s coming to him. 

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Monique Judge is a storyteller, content creator and writer living in Los Angeles. She is a word nerd who is a fan of the Oxford comma, spends way too much time on Twitter, and has more graphic t-shirts than you. Follow her on Twitter @thejournalista or check her out at moniquejudge.com.

10

In a world where many women navigate the challenges of single motherhood, their primary focus often remains the well-being of their children. However, these women also face moments of vulnerability. A recent story from Florida, USA, captured the hearts of millions on TikTok, highlighting the emotional journey of single mothers. Elizabeth Teckenbrock, a single mother of two, moved viewers with her heartfelt video.

On May 19, Elizabeth Teckenbrock (@moretanelizabeth) turned 29 and decided to celebrate by baking her own birthday cake. Her children, who have been living with her in their Florida home for several years, were excited to decorate the cake for the special occasion.

As she prepared the cake, Elizabeth experienced a moment of emotional breakdown and began to cry. This poignant scene was recorded and later shared on her TikTok account, where she wanted to show that single mothers can “do it all.”

“Being a single mom is making your own birthday cake on your birthday so your babies feel happy when they sing to you,” she wrote in the video’s description. “Wow, I’m tired of suffering,” she added.

In an interview with Newsweek, Teckenbrock revealed that she divorced three years ago and this was her first birthday celebrated without her extended family, who live far away. Currently residing in Tampa with her children, Elizabeth is also the founder of Fear to Fierce, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping abused women.

Teckenbrock’s video quickly went viral, amassing over 40 million views. Her story resonated with many single mothers who shared their own experiences and offered support. Comments flooded in, offering empathy and encouragement:

“Being a single mom is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Sometimes it can be very lonely and overwhelming,” wrote one user. Another added, “In case no one has told you today, you’re doing a great job, you are very loved.” “Sending you a big hug, I’m so sorry you feel this way,” expressed another.

However, the narrative took a sharp turn when Teckenbrock’s ex-husband, who goes by (@reinventingelizabeth) on TikTok, responded to her video with serious allegations. He claimed that Elizabeth does not work, does not have custody of their children, and has a history of legal issues, including being arrested for check fraud involving nearly a million dollars. Additionally, he accused her of faking cancer on TikTok, providing alleged receipts to back his claims.

@reinventingelizabeth

#greenscreenvideo @morethanelizabeth is a fraud and a con artist! From fake chairities to faking cancer to leaving her kids! @morethanelizabeth @Newsweek @Netflix @sara eaton ☁️ 👱🏻‍♀️ #birthdaygirl #singlemom #morethanelizabeth #inventinganna #tampafraud #reinventingelizabeth #viral #conartist #fbi #fakedcancer #mrtodd #checkfraud #foryou #cakevideo #fraud #feartofierce @Fear to Fierce

♬ original sound – Inventing Elizabeth

Following these revelations, Elizabeth Teckenbrock deactivated her TikTok account, leaving many viewers in shock and raising questions about the authenticity of her story.

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Gala season in New York is well underway, and one Black organization celebrating both art and activism has just raised record-breaking funds during its annual event. The Gordon Parks Foundation’s star-studded annual gala netted the institution more than $2.3 million, which may be partly thanks to Usher.

The organization, named after the late prolific Black photographer Gordon Parks, held its annual gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on Tuesday. The A-list guest list included Gayle King, Spike Lee, Chelsea Clinton, Ben Stiller, artist Carrie Mae Weems, photographer Ming Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Alicia Keys, her husband Swizz Beatz, Usher, and more.

While on the red carpet, Parks’ daughter, Leslie Parks Bailey, told Vogue, “[The gala] is a memory; it’s about my father, who I deeply miss.”

She added, “It’s a celebration of Black art and moving forward.”

The event is also an annual fundraiser for the foundation’s fellowships and scholarships. In addition to an auction in which Usher scored not one but two photographs by Parks, the evening featured dinner, dancing, drinks, performances by the Anthony Morgan Inspirational Choir of Harlem, Patti Smith, and a special tribute to the late actor Richard Roundtree, who died in October. 

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Other honorees included Kaepernick, Keys, and Swizz Beatz. The husband and wife have cochaired the gala for more than 10 years and currently own the largest private collection of works by Parks. Some of the works by Parks they own are currently on view at the Brooklyn Museum, in addition to more of their personal art collection in the exhibition titled “Giants.” 

While accepting the recognition, per Women’s Wear Daily, Keys told the crowd, “One never knows where they can go. And one might be told that they can’t go where others go.

She continued, “It’s up to those like Gordon, those like us in this room, to remind each other and those that come after us that there is nowhere that we don’t belong.”

During his remarks, Kaepernick told the crowd how privileged they were for even being in the room. He added that he was thinking of those who weren’t in the room due to lack of opportunity and systemic barriers.  

“All the doors, all the barriers that we still have to kick down so everybody else can come through,” he said. “So when we leave here today, ask for one thing: That all of us walk in that power. Kick those doors down. Open those windows up. Break those walls down.”

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Coming out of a record-breaking NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, the entire sports world wondered how Caitlin Clark’s game would translate to the WNBA. When some analysts and veterans suggested that she—like most rookies in most sports—would have difficulty with the transition to the pros, they were called haters.

Now that the Indiana Fever have begun the season 0-4 and Clark hasn’t had the monster, highlight filled performances she had in college, some viewers, who don’t seem to understand how sports works, have suggested that the WNBA should have given her an easier schedule, or that competitors should take it easy on her so the games are more exciting.

It’s led to endless discourse about how other WNBA players are jealous of the attention she’s getting and that they should be more grateful about all the new eyeballs and coverage she’s bringing to the women’s game. Since he’s never at a loss when it comes to bad takes, Charles Barkley weighed in on a recent edition of “Inside the NBA,” saying, “You women out there, y’all are petty, man! [LeBron James], you’re 100% right on these girls hating on Clark. Y’all are petty, girls! I expect men to be petty because we’re the most insecure group in the world. Y’all should be thanking that girl for getting y’all ass private charters [and] all the money and visibility she’s bringing to the WNBA. Don’t be petty like dudes!”

Even for Barkley, this is some straight up nonsense!

In Clark’s first four games, she’s played against really good, championship caliber teams with All-Star, gold medal winning players. They’re not jealous of her, they played her hard because she’s a threat on the court. It’s not their job to let the Iowa alum get her shots off. When he was playing, never in a million years would Charles have laid down and let a star rookie make their name off of him. Why in the world is he expecting professional women athletes to do that?

And as for his assessment that she’s the reason the league decided to finally use charter flights this season, former No. 1 draft pick and ESPN basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike responded to his comments on X.

“Ever since teams got in trouble last year for trying to find workarounds for charters, this was likely in the plans for this year, especially as owners and players presented a united front,” Ogwumike said. “(Our amazing Commish is very methodical, the right things happen but not overnight.)”

Yes, the phenomenal popularity of Clark has brought higher ratings and ticket sales to the 2024 season. But Chiney is right in pointing out that this growth has been building for several years. This moment isn’t about one player and it’s possibly to celebrate her, while also highlighting those who got the game here.

All this debate has led to another discussion about the way the media has covered Clark’s rise. Make no mistake, she’s earned everything with her talent and record-breaking scoring. However, it’s naive to think that her being white isn’t a factor in the hoopla surrounding Caitlin. In a sport routinely dominated by queer women and Black women, she’s straight and white. Let’s not act like marketing her isn’t more appealing to networks and advertisers. In fact, sports journalist Jemele Hill pointed this out in the Los Angeles Times, saying, “While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success — including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game — there is a part of it that is a little problematic because of what it says about the worth and the marketability of the players who are already there.”

Hill’s comments led to “The View” hosts offering their opinions on Clark’s immense popularity and impact, with Sunny Hostin discussing her love of the WNBA and noting that the Fever guard will bring more money to the league, but “she is more relatable to people because she’s white, because she’s attractive, and unfortunately, there still is that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community.”

Whoopi Goldberg reminded everyone about Caitlin’s record-breaking stat line and compared the “white privilege”conversation surrounding her to those who say certain students only get accepted into the Ivy League because they’re Black.

Sorry Whoopi, but you’re wrong this time. In all the craziness around Caitlin Clark, no one, including Hill, has ever doubted her basketball ability. Something Jemele highlighted when she reacted to the segment Wednesday on X.

“Glad #TheView addressed my comments in the LA Times about Caitlin Clark’s massive popularity. I love Whoopi, but think she misrepresented my comments,” she wrote in part. “I said Caitlin Clark being straight, white and from Iowa ‘played a role’ in her popularity, It’s a factor, not THEE factor.”

For her part, Clark has kept her head down and focused on basketball. Though Indiana has gone winless in its first four games, she has improved, looking more comfortable in each outing. The Fever have been bad for quite some time, so this won’t be an overnight transformation. It’s going to take time and effort from the entire organization to make them consistent winners.

In the meantime, loyal WNBA fans who actually care about the whole league and not just one player would like all these fly by night newbies to relax, hush and just enjoy the basketball. If you’re not knowledgeable about the game, it’s OK for you to keep quiet and let those who know and respect women’s basketball take the lead on this one.

5

In a new lawsuit filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, a former student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, April Lampros, has accused the music mogul of multiple sexual assaults beginning in the mid-1990s. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Lampros claims that the assaults started shortly after they met in New York City when Diddy offered to mentor her in the fashion industry.

Lampros alleges that in 1995, Diddy showered her with gifts and flowers before meeting her at a SoHo bar, where he plied her with alcohol. She describes feeling increasingly ill and disoriented as Diddy allegedly began to force himself on her at his room in the Millennium Hotel. She recalls waking up the next morning “nude, sore, and confused.”

Months later, Diddy reportedly resumed contact, promising access to music industry events. Despite the initial trauma, Lampros says she gave him a second chance, believing his assurances. However, during another encounter, she alleges he forced her to perform oral sex on him in a parking garage, witnessed by a garage attendant who Diddy disregarded.

Lampros claims that Diddy’s behavior became increasingly aggressive when she rejected further advances. She describes his threats to blacklist her in the industry, adopting a “mobster persona.” In 1996, Diddy allegedly coerced her into his apartment, introduced her to Kim Porter, and forced her to take ecstasy before demanding she have sex with Porter while he watched. Lampros states that Diddy raped her again during this encounter.

The alleged incidents continued until Lampros ended their interactions in 1998. She claims that Kim Porter later falsely accused her of attempting to poison her, leading to Lampros’ firing from her restaurant job due to Diddy’s influence.

In a chance meeting in Rockefeller Center around 2000 or early 2001, Lampros alleges that Diddy, then dating Jennifer Lopez, visited her apartment and violently attempted to assault her again, but she managed to fend him off. More recently, in 2023, Lampros claims to have learned that Diddy recorded one of their sexual encounters without her consent and has shown the video to multiple people.

Lampros is suing Diddy for sexual assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit also names Bad Boy Records, Arista, and Sony Music Entertainment as defendants, accusing them of enabling Diddy’s alleged misconduct.

The allegations add to a series of legal troubles for Diddy, raising serious questions about his conduct and the responsibility of the companies that have supported his career. Neither Diddy nor his representatives have commented on the latest lawsuit at this time.

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