Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces fresh lawsuit for sexual assault

American music executive, Sean "Diddy" Combs has once again been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old youngster in a new lawsuit.

The 54-year-old artist allegedly abused the boy in a New York City hotel room in 2005.

A second new lawsuit claims the imprisoned hip-hop entrepreneur of beating a 17-year-old potential contestant on the reality television show Making the Band in 2008.

They are the latest in a series of lawsuits in which claimants claim Combs sexually attacked them at parties and meetings over the last two decades.

Combs' lawyers dismissed the two additional claims, accusing the plaintiffs' attorney, Anthony Buzbee, of seeking publicity. Mr Buzbee says he is representing more than 150 of the rapper's alleged victims and has filed at least 17 lawsuits.

"Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process," an emailed statement said. "In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone - man or woman, adult or minor."

Combs is currently in a New York City jail after pleading not guilty to federal sex trafficking accusations contained in an indictment revealed following his arrest on September 16.

He is accused of coercing and abusing women, as well as silencing them through extortion and violence.

The 10-year-old child, who was not named in the case, was an aspiring actor and rapper who traveled from California with his parents to meet with music industry executives.

During a fake audition, a Combs associate gave him a drug-laced soft drink.

Combs described the latter as a "test" of the teenager's will to thrive in the music industry.

According to the filing, when the 17-year-old expressed concerns, he was removed from the competition and barred from returning to the music industry for seven years.

Both claims were filed under New York City's Victims of Gender Motivated Violence Protection Act, which permits survivors to file lawsuits even after the statute of limitations has expired.

Combs' criminal trial is slated on May 5, 2025.