Sara Rivers, a former contestant on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ MTV reality show Making The Band, has filed a lawsuit against the music mogul, the network, and other involved parties, alleging mistreatment, sexual harassment, and career mismanagement.
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Ariel Mitchell, comes as multiple legal claims continue to surface against Diddy in the wake of New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) filing deadline.
Allegations of Abuse and Exploitation
According to the lawsuit, Rivers claims she endured abusive treatment during her time on Making The Band 2, including being forced to complete the now-infamous late-night “cheesecake” walk and sleep in a room with four men despite being married.
She further alleges that Diddy sexually harassed and assaulted her and mismanaged her music career for personal gain.
Diddy’s Legal Response
Diddy’s legal team has denied the allegations, calling them false and opportunistic, particularly as the filing coincides with the approaching deadline for claims under the GMVA.
The act allows survivors of gender-motivated violence to file civil lawsuits that may have otherwise been time-barred.
MTV and other defendants named in the lawsuit have yet to publicly comment. However, the case raises broader concerns about reality TV’s treatment of contestants and the potential legal responsibilities of networks and producers in safeguarding participants from harm.
As the lawsuit moves forward, it could set a precedent for other reality show participants seeking legal recourse for past mistreatment.
