Diddy has been sued again.
According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone on Friday, fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan filed a lawsuit against the music mogul earlier this week in Los Angeles for sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and more, claiming he threatened to kill her and dangled her over the side of Cassie Ventura’s balcony. The lawsuit filed by attorney James R. Nikraftar of Miller Barondess said:
“The only purpose of dangling someone over a balcony is to actually kill them or to intentionally terrorize them and rob them of any concept of dominion over their own bodily autonomy and safety. Ms. Bongolan refuses to allow this fear to control the rest of her life and brings this action to demand that Mr. Combs takes responsibility for the trauma he intentionally and maliciously inflicted.”
In the suit, Bongolan said she became close to Cassie when they worked at Diamond Supply Co. in Los Angeles around 2014. The Me & U singer introduced her to Diddy, whom the designer thought could give “once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to collaborate” with him and his business. However, the lawsuit claims what she got instead was “terror and abuse at his hands.” Until 2018, Bongolan said she worked on multiple projects for the rapper and his companies such as Bad Boy Entertainment jackets, the 2016 Bad Boy reunion tour, album covers, music videos, and a clothing line with Cassie.
During this time, she alleges she started to notice “disturbing signs of an abusive relationship” between Cassie and Diddy. He allegedly would blow up the musician’s phone if she did not answer his calls, come to her apartment unannounced, and “bang” on the door, and accuse others of trying to “f**k his woman.” Bongolan claims she saw Cassie covered in bruises or with a black eye several times, which the Step Up 2 actress allegedly said were from Diddy. She also allegedly witnessed a fight when the Bad Boy Records founder “threw a large kitchen knife at Ms. Ventura, who, acting in self-defense, threw one back at him.” Whoa.
But soon, Bongolan claimed Diddy began “directing his rage” toward her — not just Cassie. While at a photo shoot for the model, he allegedly cornered and threatened Bongolan. The lawsuit stated Diddy told the designer:
“I’m the motherf**king devil. You have no idea what I could do to you. I could kill you.”
Bongolan recalled she took the threat seriously as she knew “first-hand that Mr. Combs was a violent man” because she saw the alleged abuse Cassie suffered and learned that Kid Cudi’s car blew up after his fling with the singer. FYI, Cassie claimed in her since-settled lawsuit that Diddy orchestrated the explosion of his car — and Kid Cudi confirmed the allegation to The New York Times. Bongolan further claimed she heard rumors that Diddy “skinned a rival’s dog” once. What the f**k!
Things took a scary turn on September 26, 2016, while she and her girlfriend were sleeping over at Cassie’s apartment in Los Angeles, according to Bongolan. Per the lawsuit, Bongolan woke up in the early hours of the morning to Diddy “violently” yelling and banding on the front door. Bongolan said she told her girlfriend to hide in the bathroom and lock the door before the Coming Home artist barged into the place. Once inside the apartment, he stormed over to Bongolan while she was on the balcony. Diddy then grabbed her and groped her breasts while she attempted to fight back and scream at him to leave her alone, the suit claimed.
And the situation escalated from there. Bongolan claimed Diddy grabbed her by the armpits and “lifted her up on the banister of the 17th floor balcony, while repeatedly yelling, ‘Do you know what the f**k you did? Do you know what the f**k you did?’” Whoa. Bongolan tried to get back on the ground. However, she was unsuccessful:
“He immediately lifted her up higher and higher over the 17th floor balcony of Ms. Ventura’s apartment with only Combs’ grip keeping her from falling to her death.”
The lawsuit alleged Cassie — who was locked in her bedroom — came out to the balcony and “screamed” at Diddy to stop, saying Bongolan’s girlfriend was in the apartment and could hear everything:
“Recognizing the threat of so many witnesses to his assault, [Combs] pulled Ms. Bongolan back over the balcony. But he did not release her. In a last fit of violence, he slammed Ms. Bongolan onto the balcony’s patio furniture, including a table. The September 26 assault ultimately proved that Ms. Bongolan was correct to fear Mr. Combs and has resulted in deep and lasting harm.”
So, so awful.
Bongolan is now seeking $10 million in damages for the emotional distress that she allegedly suffered. As you know, this is one of many lawsuits against Diddy. He was arrested in September for sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy two months ago and is in jail awaiting trial next May. Diddy has maintained his innocence. His team even released a statement to TMZ on Saturday denying the latest allegations, saying:
“Mr. Combs firmly denies these serious allegations and remains confident they will ultimately be proven baseless. He has unwavering faith in the facts and in the fairness of the judicial process. In court, the truth will come to light, demonstrating that the claims against Mr. Combs are without merit.”
However, it is important that Cassie referenced the alleged balcony incident in her since-settled sexual abuse and sex trafficking suit against Diddy. She claimed she was forced to participate in a freak-off with a male sex worker and then witnessed a “severely intoxicated” Combs pick up a woman “like a child” and hold her over a 17th-floor balcony.
