Diddy Faces New Lawsuit Alleging Intimidation and Fraud in Bad Boy Entertainment Takeover
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Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing fresh legal trouble as his former business partner, Kirk Burrowes, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs used intimidation and violence to seize control of Bad Boy Entertainment, the record label they co-founded.
According to court documents obtained by DailyMail, Burrowes claims that in May 1996, Combs, armed with a baseball bat, stormed into his New York City office alongside Bad Boy Entertainment’s attorney, Kenneth Meiselas.
The lawsuit alleges that Combs and Meiselas forced Burrowes to sign over his 25% stake in the company to Diddy’s mother, Janice Smalls-Combs.
“By words and actions, Sean Combs and Kenneth Meiselas frightened, intimidated, and assaulted the plaintiff (Burrowes), forcing him to turn over his share certificate for 25 shares of Bad Boy Entertainment,” the lawsuit states.
Burrowes alleges that he was in tears and unable to resist under the circumstances.
Allegations of Abuse and Financial Hardship
The lawsuit claims that Smalls-Combs, now 84, orchestrated a long-term scheme of intimidation, financial fraud, and misrepresentation to ensure her son’s control over Bad Boy Entertainment.
Burrowes further alleges that he counseled Smalls-Combs during instances of alleged physical abuse by her son, claiming that he witnessed Diddy “aggressively overpowering” her and using derogatory slurs.
Burrowes, now 62, says the fallout left him homeless in New York City and in severe financial distress despite once serving as President, COO, and General Manager of the company.
The lawsuit also claims that Burrowes was blacklisted from the music industry, denied business opportunities, and had his reputation destroyed as part of an effort to erase him from Bad Boy Entertainment’s history.
A History of Broken Promises and Lost Profits
Burrowes, who played a key role in securing Mary J. Blige’s hit “Family Affair” with Dr. Dre, alleges that despite his contributions, Diddy sabotaged his career.
From 1992 to 1997, his salary increased from $30,000 to $125,000, an amount he claims was far below what he was promised given Bad Boy’s massive success.
He also alleges that Diddy and his mother repeatedly failed to honor financial commitments, including a 2019 promise at Diana Ross’s birthday party to finally “make things right.”
Burrowes says he initially invested $100,000 into Bad Boy Entertainment and is now seeking:
- Restitution for lost profits
- Reinstatement of his 25% ownership stake
- A forensic audit of the label’s finances
He also claims that despite providing historical records and materials for a 2021 documentary on Bad Boy Entertainment, he was never compensated.
The lawsuit alleges that while Diddy and his mother continued to profit, Burrowes was left in financial ruin—and is now fighting to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his.
