Sara Rivers, a former member of Da Band, has reentered public view after filing a far-reaching lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Her complaint, submitted in February 2025, accuses Combs of sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct connected to her time on Making The Band 2. Rivers is seeking $60 million in damages, a sum she argues reflects the extent of the alleged harm.
Rivers describes a series of disturbing episodes during the show’s taping. In her account, Diddy “backed her into a corner” and made unwanted physical contact while cast members lived in what she called “inhumane” conditions. She also says Diddy and his companies damaged her career by misusing her creative work. These claims form the core of a narrative she has carried for years but is now fighting to litigate in full.
Last August, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff dismissed most of Rivers’ allegations with prejudice, blocking any future attempt to revive them. Only one allegation remains—the claim brought under New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act—and it cannot move forward without approval from a higher court. Rivers has already encountered a major complication: she missed the October 17 deadline to file Form C, the document required to establish the official record for an appeal. That missed deadline has placed her appeal in default under federal rules.
Current Legal Context for Diddy
Rivers’ case is one piece of a larger legal landscape surrounding Diddy. A judge recently granted him permission to serve a defamation lawsuit against accuser Courtney Burgess through newspaper publication because his incarceration prevents direct service. The matter is separate from Rivers’ claims but adds to the ongoing legal scrutiny focused on Diddy.
With most allegations already thrown out and her appeal stalled, Rivers faces an increasingly steep climb to keep her case alive. Unless the appellate court intervenes, her remaining claim may never reach a courtroom. For now, both sides are waiting on the next procedural decision, which will determine whether the lawsuit continues or closes for good.
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