The comedian Druski has strongly denied that he raped a woman with rapper Sean Combs.
The Context
Over 200 people have filed sexual assault lawsuits against Combs, who is currently in a New York federal prison, accused of conspiracy to engage in prostitution and other charges.
One woman suing Diddy, Ashley Parham, alleges that Druski, Combs and another man raped her in California.
Newsweek sought comment from attorneys for Druski and Combs on Monday.
What to Know
Parham filed a lawsuit against Combs last October. She accused him of “violently gang raping” her with a group of other unnamed men in Orinda, California, in 2018.
Her lawsuit alleged that Combs kidnapped her and took her to the Orinda house and that he sexually assaulted her with a TV remote control during the rape.
On March 7, her lawyer filed an amended complaint, alleging that Druski was one of the other rapists. The amended complaint alleges that Diddy instructed Druski to rape her.
“Instead of immediately raping Plaintiff, Defendant Druski doused Plaintiff with more oil/lubricant and then jumped on top of Plaintiff’s naked and oiled body, treating it like a slip and slide and knocking the wind out of Plaintiff due to his enormous size,” the amended complaint states.
“Defendant Druski then caught himself from sliding over Plaintiff’s oiled body and off the bed, he then began raping Plaintiff.”
“While Defendant Druski was raping Plaintiff, Defendant Diddy sat in a chair near the bed” and recorded it on his phone, it alleges.
“Another party’s phone fell on the bed near Plaintiff. Plaintiff then attempted to grab the phone but it slipped out of her hands and onto the floor due to the oil/lubricant that had been doused all over her person by Defendants Diddy and Druski. Defendant Diddy began laughing at Plaintiff’s attempt to grab the phone,” the complaint also alleges.
Who is Druski?
Druski, real name Drew Desbordes, is a sketch comedian who grew up in Maryland to a mother who worked for the State Department and a father who worked as a commercial pilot.
After dropping out of college, he devoted himself to sketch comedy on Instagram, earning a large fan base. He was later given a show on Diddy’s Revolt cable TV network and did successful comedy tours across the U.S.
In 2013, the website Wealthendipity, which estimates celebrities’ wealth, estimated that Druski had earned $1 million, a figure what has likely grown considerably since then through a large number of advertising deals for Pepsi, Google and others.
What People Are Saying
Druski called the allegations a “fabricated lie” in a statement he posted on Instagram.
“I wasn’t a public figure in 2018 – I was broke living with my mom without any connections to the entertainment industry at the time of this allegation, so the inclusion of my name is truly outlandish,” he wrote.
“My heart breaks for actual victims of abuse, but I’m fully confident that the evidence will expose this falsehood and the individuals who are maliciously trying to game the legal system to peddle false narratives.”
In a statement, Diddy’s lawyers told The Daily Mail that he vehemently denied the allegations.
“This new complaint – brought by an attorney who has already been sued for defaming Mr. Combs – demonstrates the depraved lengths plaintiffs will travel to garner headlines in pursuit of a payday,” the statement reads.
“Mr. Combs was nowhere near Orinda, California on the day Ms. Parham claims she was assaulted there, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department has already confirmed Ms. Parham’s claims were determined to be unfounded following a thorough investigation.”
What Happens Next
The judge will allow Combs and Druski to file responses to the allegations.
They will likely seek a summary judgement, which would end the case.
If the judge refuses, the case will move towards pre-trial hearings and disclosure.
The post Druski Responds After Being Named in Ashley Parham’s Lawsuit Against Diddy appeared first on Newsweek.
