In a startling twist to the ongoing legal battle, Jennifer Lopez has been dragged into ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs’ $400 million sexual assault lawsuit.
The male prisoner suing the mogul over a 1997 alleged assault has named Lopez as a potential witness in the case, citing her relationship with Diddy during the period in question.
Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who is currently incarcerated at the Michigan Department of Corrections, has accused Diddy of assaulting him at a Detroit Holiday Inn in 1997.
In newly filed court documents, obtained exclusively by In Touch, Derrick revealed his intention to call the 55-year-old pop star to testify in the case.
Lopez and Diddy were romantically involved from 1999 to 2001, and Derrick claims that because of their relationship, Lopez may hold key information about the alleged assault.
He contends that he first met Diddy while working as a bartender and that the mogul invited him to a sex party at a hotel. Derrick says that at the party, Diddy gave him a drink that he claimed had been laced with a substance, causing Derrick to lose consciousness.
He claims that when he regained awareness, he found himself in the presence of Diddy and another woman, with Diddy reportedly saying:
“I did this to you too!”
Derrick is seeking $400 million in damages for the alleged assault and claims that government officials helped Diddy cover up the incident. In addition, he accused Diddy of conspiring to keep the truth hidden for decades.
Diddy’s legal team has vehemently denied the accusations, calling the claims “baseless.” They pointed out inconsistencies in Derrick’s story, including conflicting reports of where the alleged assault occurred, and emphasized that Derrick filed his complaint well past the statute of limitations.
The alleged incident took place in June 1997, meaning that any legal claim would have expired by June 2000.
Diddy’s lawyer has also cast doubt on Derrick’s claims of intimidation, mocking his argument that fear of retaliation from Diddy led him to delay filing the lawsuit.
The lawyer scoffed at Derrick’s suggestion that Diddy was involved in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, calling it “simply incredible.”
The case has intensified with additional legal challenges, including a September arrest of Diddy on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, Diddy has struggled to secure bond and remains in custody as the legal proceedings unfold.
Lopez, who has not commented publicly on her potential involvement in the case, now finds herself in the midst of a lawsuit that threatens to further complicate her relationship with her ex.
While her role in the case is unclear, her connection to Diddy during the time of the alleged assault has made her a focal point in Derrick’s legal strategy.
