Lawyer for Diddy Accusers Says Hotline for Victims Received 12K Calls in 24 Hours

Mar. 15, 2025

Sean “Diddy” Combs.Photo:Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

A lawyer representing 120 people accusingSean “Diddy” Combsof sexual misconduct says 12,000 people called a hotline set up for the music mogul’s accusers in 24 hours.

Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who previously announced at a press conference that he was representing more than 100 accusers, revealed the large number of hotline calls in a video interview withLaw & Crime.

“When I made an announcement that I was going to pursue these cases, the floodgates really opened,” Buzbee said during the interview, which was conducted on Oct. 2. “In about a 10-day period, we got about 3,200 calls. And then from the press conference we had [Oct. 1], we’ve had 12,000 calls.”

Buzbee’s announcement of the impending lawsuits, against Combs, which have not yet been filed, also included allegations that the Bad Boy Records founder had abused children,including a 9-year-old boywho alleges that he was sexually abused while auditioning at a studio in New York City.

Buzbee is a high-profile attorney who represented several women who accused Cleveland Browns quarterbackDeshaun Watson of sexual misconduct.

These latest accusations against Combs came after he wasindicted on federal chargesof sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution on Sept. 17. He haspleaded not guilty.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Combs’ legal woes began in November 2023 when his ex, the singerCasandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs sexually abused and assaulted her. The suit waspromptly settledbut led to a slew of other lawsuits accusing the mogul of misconduct.

The federal indictment, for which Combs is currently behind bars after being denied bail twice, centers on“freak offs,”which prosecutors allege were highly orchestrated sex performances. Combs is accused of having forced or coerced women into participating in the “freak offs,” which sometimes lasted days and involved narcotic use, with male sex workers, according to prosecutors.

If Combs is convicted on all charges, he could potentially face life in prison.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com