A man accusing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexual assault has dropped Beyoncé and Jay-Z from his lawsuit against the embattled mogul.
Joseph Manzaro filed an amendment in his ongoing legal fight against Diddy, 55, in a Florida court Friday, April 11, in which Beyoncé and her husband (real name Shawn Carter) were no longer mentioned.
In the original lawsuit, Manzaro alleged that he was drugged and transported to Star Island, in Miami, for a birthday party for Diddy’s son, King Combs, in 2015. The accuser says Diddy ridiculed him by forcing him to parade around the party wearing a pig mask, in what was dubbed a “Freak Off.” Manzaro originally named Beyoncé and Jay-Z among the guests in attendance.
Page Six was first to report a revision to Manzaro’s lawsuit, noting that attorneys for the Carters were able to document that they were not in Miami at the time of the 2015 event. Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, previously denied his client’s involvement in a statement to Us Weekly.
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“Mr. Carter wasn’t in Florida at that time to witness this incident — he was engaged in easily findable public activities that prove he was not at this event. This is more nonsense that erodes the trust in our ‘justice’ system,’” Spiro said.
Manzaro claimed in legal documents that he was dragged through the back entrance of Emilio and Gloria Estefan‘s home and led through a tunnel to Diddy’s nearby mansion. He alleged that a rubber dam was forcibly inserted and zipped over his head and that he was ordered to wear a small thong bikini bottom, with a black leather mask. From there, Manzaro accused Diddy of subjecting him to non-consensual sex acts.
When Manzaro’s lawsuit was filed earlier in April, a spokesperson for Gloria and Emilio denied having knowledge of any alleged abuse.
“The property in question was never a home where Gloria and Emilio resided, but it was rather a house they owned for family use,” the Estefans’ spokesperson said. “There were no parties thrown at that property between 2012 and 2019. We have all necessary documentation to support these facts and will provide it to the court.”
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Diddy’s legal team also strenuously denied the allegations, telling TMZ, “This complaint demonstrates the depraved lengths plaintiffs will travel to garner headlines in pursuit of a payday. No sane person reading this complaint could credit this story. Mr. Combs looks forward to having his day in court where these lies – and the perverse motives of those who told them – will be revealed.”
The musician and record producer is currently incarcerated after being indicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution in September 2024. Diddy has denied all allegations against him and is due to appear in court on May 5.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
