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Sean Combs – also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy – has been embroiled in a string of serious allegations in recent months. 

The 54-year-old’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security Investigations agents on 25 March.

But what exactly is he accused of – and what has he had to say about it?

What are the allegations?

The raids on the rapper‘s properties were part of an ongoing sex-trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York.

According to Sky’s US partner network NBC News, three women and a man were interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to the probe.

The investigation includes further allegations of sexual assault, solicitation, and distribution of illegal drugs and firearms.

Combs has also recently faced several lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and other wrongdoing.

In February, a music producer alleged Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.

Combs’s lawyer responded by saying: “We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies”.

The rapper’s former protégé and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, also sued him in November alleging she was trafficked, raped, plied with drugs and beaten by Combs over a 10-year period.

The lawsuit claimed he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them. The case was settled the day after it was filed.

Cassie Ventura and Sean 'Diddy' Combs pictured together in 2015
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Combs with former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2015. Pic: Reuters

Also in November, Combs was sued by Joie Dickerson-Neal who alleged he drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was a psychology student at Syracuse University in January 1991. She also accused him of filming the attack.

Combs rejected the claims as “made up and not credible”, with a spokesperson branding them “purely a money grab and nothing more”.

Another of the rapper’s accusers is a woman who claims he “gang raped” her two decades ago after she was plied with drugs and alcohol at the age of 17.

What has Sean Combs said?

He has denied all the allegations.

In a statement in December, Combs described the claims he was facing then as “sickening” and alleged his accusers were “looking for a quick payday”.

“Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth,” he said.

Following the raids on his house earlier this week, Combs’s lawyer Aaron Dyer said there had been a “gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed”.

“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated,” he added.

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Mr Dyer said Combs had not been arrested or had his ability to travel restricted, and neither had any of his family members.

“This unprecedented ambush – paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence – leads to a premature rush to judgement of Mr Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.

“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

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Diddy’s homes raided

Have there been any repercussions?

Two properties owned by Combs were searched by federal agents on 25 March.

NBC News reported several phones were also seized from the musician in Miami before he was scheduled to depart on a trip to the Bahamas.

Last year, Combs stepped down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt amid the sexual abuse allegations.

Sean Diddy Combs at the Met Gala in May 2023
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Combs at the Met Gala in May 2023. Pic: Reuters

Revolt announced Combs’s decision via social media. It is not clear if he will ever return to the media company – which previously said he had “no operational or day-to-day role” at the network.

“This decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and African diaspora,” the network said.

Combs also created an online marketplace called Empower Global that featured Black-owned brands. Its website is still active, but has no products currently listed for sale.

Why is he famous?

Combs is among the most influential hip-hop producers of the past three decades.

Also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, he built one of hip-hop’s biggest empires, blazing a trail with several entities attached to his name.

He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with 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.

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MasterChef presenter John Torode sacked

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MasterChef presenter John Torode sacked

MasterChef presenter John Torode will no longer work on the show after an allegation he used an “extremely offensive racist term” was upheld, the BBC has said.

His co-host Gregg Wallace was also sacked last week after claims of inappropriate behaviour.

On Monday, Torode said an allegation he used racist language was upheld in a report into the behaviour of Wallace. The report found more than half of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.

Torode, 59, insisted he had “absolutely no recollection” of the alleged incident involving him and he “did not believe that it happened,” adding “racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment”.

John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic:PA
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John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic: PA

In a statement on Tuesday, a BBC spokesperson said the allegation “involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace”.

The claim was “investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin”, they added.

“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said.

“We will not tolerate racist language of any kind… we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.

“John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”

Australian-born Torode started presenting MasterChef alongside Wallace, 60, in 2005.

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Why Gregg Wallace says he ‘will not go quietly’

A statement from Banijay UK said it “takes this matter incredibly seriously” and Lewis Silkin “substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018”.

“This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint,” the TV production company added.

“Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”

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Earlier, as the BBC released its annual report, its director-general Tim Davie addressed MasterChef’s future, saying it can survive as it is “much bigger than individuals”.

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BBC annual report findings

Speaking to BBC News after Torode was sacked, Mr Davie said a decision is yet to be taken over whether an unseen MasterChef series – filmed with both Wallace and Torode last year – will be aired.

“It’s a difficult one because… those amateur chefs gave a lot to take part – it means a lot, it can be an enormous break if you come through the show,” he added.

“I want to just reflect on that with the team and make a decision, and we’ll communicate that in due course.”

Mr Davie refused to say what the “seriously racist term” Torode was alleged to have used but said: “I certainly think we’ve drawn a line in the sand.”

In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity.

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BBC gives update on MasterChef’s future after Gregg Wallace allegations – as annual report released

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MasterChef is 'bigger than individuals' and 'can survive', BBC says

The head of the BBC says MasterChef can survive its current scandal as it is “much bigger than individuals” – but the corporation must “make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show”.

Director-general Tim Davie said he “absolutely” thinks the popular cooking contest has a future, with the production’s current deal with the corporation set to run out in 2028, and praised it as “a great programme that’s loved by audiences”.

Speaking as the BBC unveiled its annual report, and following a series of recent controversies, Mr Davie said the corporation’s leadership team will not “tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values”, and confirmed “senior individuals and people involved in these cases are being held to account”.

On Monday, it was revealed an independent review into “inappropriate behaviour” by MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace had upheld more than half of the allegations against him.

In response, Wallace said he was “deeply sorry” and never set out to “harm or humiliate”.

A few hours later, MasterChef presenter John Torode said an allegation he used “racial language” was upheld in the report as part of a review.

Torode has said he has “no recollection of the incident” and “did not believe that it happened”.

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Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Shutterstock 

John Torode and Gregg Wallace
Childline Ball, Old Billingsgate Walk, London, UK - 26 Sep 2019
This years MasterChef themed Childline Ball took place at 1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London. Guests were joined by MasterChef judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode, with all the money raised during the evening going directly to Childline's vital work supporting children.
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John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2019. Pic: Casey Gutteridge/Shutterstock

Mr Davie said the BBC’s leadership team would not “tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values,” while BBC chair Samir Shah acknowledged there were still pockets within the corporation where “powerful individuals” can still “make life for their colleagues unbearable”.

They said several BBC staff members had been dismissed in the last three months following an independent review into workplace culture.

The review found the corporation did not have a toxic culture but there was a minority of people who behaved unacceptably and whose behaviour was not addressed.

Wallace, who was sacked from MasterChef last week, is not included in that count as he was not directly contracted by the corporation, but was employed by independent production company Banijay.

John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic:PA
Image:
John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic: PA

The BBC has yet to decide if the unseen MasterChef series – filmed with both Wallace and Torode last year – will be aired or not.

‘We will make mistakes’

News of the findings in the Gregg Wallace report came on the same day it was revealed the BBC was deemed to have breached its editorial guidelines over a Gaza documentary that was narrated by the child of a Hamas official.

Media watchdog Ofcom subsequently launched its own investigation into Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, which was removed from BBC iPlayer in February.

While the 2024-25 annual report showed a small rise in trust overall for the corporation, Mr Davie said it had been a year which saw the reputation of the BBC damaged by “serious failings” in the making of the documentary.

He said it was important that the BBC “took full responsibility for those failings and apologised for them” and called the documentary “the most challenging editorial issue” he has dealt with.

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BBC under fire over Wallace and Gaza

Mr Davie said the BBC was “taking action to ensure proper accountability and we’re taking immediate steps to stop a failing like this being repeated”.

Despite a series of controversies in recent months – including livestreaming the controversial Bob Vylan set at Glastonbury, when the band led chants of “death to the IDF” – Mr Davie insisted he can “lead” the BBC in the right direction.

When asked if he would resign, he replied: “I simply think I’m in a place where I can work to improve dramatically the BBC and lead it in the right way.

“We will make mistakes, but I think as a leadership and myself, I’ve been very clear, and I think we have been decisive.”

BBC Director-General Tim Davie. Pic: PA
Image:
BBC director-general Tim Davie. Pic: PA

After what he called a “tough period,” he said the job of director-general was not one to take on “if you want a quiet life or a stress-free existence”.

Mr Shah backed Mr Davie, saying he had shown “very strong leadership throughout all this period and he has my full support”.

The report showed that Mr Davie, who has been in the role since 2020, has had a 3.8% pay rise, with his salary going up from £527,000 last year to £547,000.

BBC’s top-earning stars revealed

The BBC annual report also revealed its on-screen top earners, which saw former Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker top the chart for the eighth year running.

The former Match Of The Day presenter, who left the BBC in May, earned £1.35m in 2024/25, according to the corporation’s annual report.

Last year’s BBC annual review was overshadowed by controversy over flagship show Strictly Come Dancing, while the year before saw disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards named the corporation’s highest-paid news anchor, despite having been suspended for nine months.

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BBC reveals highest-earning stars – as pay list published

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BBC reveals highest-earning stars - as pay list published

Gary Lineker has topped the list of the BBC’s highest-earning stars for the eighth year running.

The former Match Of The Day presenter, who left the BBC in May, earned £1.35m in 2024/25, according to the corporation’s annual report.

Presenter Zoe Ball was the second-highest paid, earning £517,000 for her work on the Radio 2 breakfast show, which she left in December last year.

Her replacement as breakfast show host Scott Mills was just outside the top 10 as the eleventh highest earner – with a salary of between £355,000 and £359,000.

Ball has since returned to a new Saturday afternoon show on Radio 2, which she began hosting in May.

Lineker’s former Match Of The Day colleague Alan Shearer was the third-highest earner, with a salary of between £440,000 and £444,999.

Exact salaries for Lineker and Ball are listed in the BBC’s annual report, but the pay of the rest of the on-air talent is listed in bands.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James was fourth on the list, while presenters Fiona Bruce and Nick Robinson were the joint fifth-highest earners.

The list does not include people who are paid through independent production companies or the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Studios.

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BBC gives update on MasterChef’s future
BBC broke editorial guidelines with Gaza documentary

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BBC reputation damaged by ‘serious errors’

The BBC’s annual report comes as the organisation has faced criticism for a series of failings.

They have included the airing of a controversial Bob Vylan set at Glastonbury – where the band led chants of “death to the IDF”, and claims of “inappropriate behaviour” by MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace.

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BBC under fire over Wallace and Gaza

Speaking after the publication of the report, BBC director-general Tim Davie said MasterChef can survive its current scandal as it is “much bigger than individuals”.

But he stressed that the corporation must “make sure we’re in the right place in terms of the culture of the show”.

They said several BBC staff members had been dismissed in the last three months, following an independent review into workplace culture.

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