Cuba Gooding Jr accused of 'groping and fondling' music producer who says Sean 'Diddy' Combs 'pressured him to have sex with prostitutes'
Rodney Jones alleged the actor "began touching, groping, and fondling his legs, upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks, and his shoulders", making him "extremely uncomfortable" while they were on a yacht in the Caribbean.
Tuesday 26 March 2024 12:15, UK
A music producer who last month accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of forcing him to find sex workers and pressuring him to perform sex acts with them, has accused Cuba Gooding Jr of "fondling" and "groping" him while they were on a yacht in the Caribbean.
Music producer, Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones, accused the actor of sexual assault and misconduct in a civil complaint filed in a US District Court in Manhattan on Monday night.
In an amendment to his original complaint against Combs, made in February 2023, Mr Jones alleged Gooding Jr "began touching, groping, and fondling Mr Jones' legs, his upper inner thighs near his groin, the small of his back near his buttocks, and his shoulders".
Baltimore bridge collapse latest: 'Mass casualty event' as people in water
The 38-year-old producer "was extremely uncomfortable and proceeded to lean away from Mr Gooding Jr... he rejected his advances and Mr Gooding Jr did not stop until Mr Jones forcibly pushed him away", the case said.
Mr Jones's lawyers said the incident happened in January last year on a yacht rented by Combs in the US Virgin Islands.
Gooding Jr, 56, has not been arrested or charged.
In 2022, after he admitted forcibly kissing a worker at a New York nightclub in 2018, the actor underwent therapy for his use of alcohol and behaviour, and the case was resolved without him spending time in jail.
Last month, Mr Jones accused Combs, 54, of forcing him to solicit prostitutes and pressuring him to have sex with them.
At the time, Combs' lawyer said "we have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies".
Mr Jones' allegations against Gooding Jr were filed hours after federal officials searched Combs's homes in connection to an investigation into sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, Sky's US partner network NBC News, said, quoting a source familiar with the investigation.
Three women and a man have been interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan. while three other interviews are planned, NBC said.
The American music mogul has been the subject of several lawsuits in recent months.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
His former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, sued him in November alleging she was trafficked, raped, plied with drugs and beaten by Combs over a 10-year period. The case was settled the day after it was filed.
Also in November, Combs was sued by Joie Dickerson-Neal, a former student, who claimed he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1991 and filmed the attack.
Read more from Sky News:
Cameron Diaz, 51, announces birth of son
'I'd be paid more if I were a man', Colman says
Sacha Baron Cohen denies being 'a***hole' in Wilson's book
Another of Combs's accusers is a woman who claims he "gang raped" her two decades ago after she was plied with drugs and alcohol when she was 17 years old.
Combs has denied all the allegations.
Also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, he is among the most influential hip hop producers and executives of the past three decades.
He founded Bad Boy Records, has won three Grammies and has worked with several top-tier artists including Notorious BIG, Mary J Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
His latest album, The Love Album - Off the Grid, was released last year days after Combs was honoured at the MTV VMAs. It was nominated for best progressive R&B album at February's Grammy Awards, which he did not attend.