Sean “Diddy” Combs secured a major legal triumph on August 14, 2025, when a New York federal judge dismissed all 22 counts in a $60 million lawsuit filed by Sara Rivers, a former contestant on MTV’s Making the Band 2. The lawsuit, which alleged sexual harassment, assault, and mistreatment during Rivers’ time on the show in the early 2000s, was thrown out with prejudice, meaning most claims cannot be refiled. This ruling marks another win for Sean “Diddy” Combs amid a string of high-profile legal battles.
Rivers, once known as Sara Stokes during her time as a member of the hip-hop group Da Band, filed the 148-page lawsuit in February 2025 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She accused Combs, along with over two dozen defendants including Universal Music Group, MTV, Viacom, and Bad Boy Records executives, of creating a hostile work environment. Among her allegations, Rivers claimed Combs sexually assaulted her at his Daddy’s House recording studio by inappropriately touching her breasts during a hallway encounter. She also described grueling tasks, like the infamous Making the Band challenge where contestants walked 11 miles from Manhattan to Brooklyn to retrieve a cheesecake for Combs, as examples of forced labor and intimidation.
The lawsuit further alleged verbal abuse, racketeering, false imprisonment, and fraud, with Rivers claiming Combs mocked her struggles with bulimia and controlled her sleep and diet. She also accused him of dismantling Da Band while profiting from her work, effectively derailing her career. One key claim, tied to the New York City Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, alleged sexual abuse but remains under review, as the judge deferred a final decision on whether it can be refiled pending further legal guidance.
Judge Jed S. Rakoff, overseeing the Diddy court case, dismissed the claims after reviewing written submissions and oral arguments on August 13, 2025. The ruling applied to all defendants, including those not yet served, such as Townsquare Media Group and Alison Stanley, and denied Rivers’ motions for default judgment as moot. While the judge has yet to release a detailed written explanation, the dismissal with prejudice signals a strong rejection of most of Rivers’ allegations.
Combs’s attorney, Erica Wolff, celebrated the decision, stating,
“The Court found no legal basis to allow these claims to proceed. We’re pleased with the swift dismissal of these baseless allegations.”
Meanwhile, Rivers’ attorney, Ariel Mitchell, vowed to appeal, saying,
“We look forward to further litigation, particularly against Mr. Combs.”
This victory comes as Combs navigates other legal challenges. The news that the Diddy lawsuit was dismissed arrives just one month after he was acquitted of major federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking in a separate case. Though he was convicted on lesser charges, keeping him in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, this latest ruling significantly strengthens his position as he continues to defend himself in court.
