Following the FBI’s raid of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami houses earlier this week, a handful of celebrities’ names listed in a lawsuit against Combs have begun circulating online, including Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.
The lawsuit, filed by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones on February 27, 2024, and amended on March 25, alleges Combs’ involvement in a sex trafficking ring.
Seeing a prominent pastor’s name included in Combs’ lawsuit has led to widespread speculation on social media. To clear things up, here’s what we know:
- In the suit, there is no implication of Jakes participating in, or knowing about, any illegal or scandalous activity by Combs.
- Jones’ lawsuit claims to possess “irrefutable evidence” of “Mr. Combs detailing how he planned to leverage his relationship with Bishop T.D. Jakes to soften the impact on his public image of Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit.”
- In 2021, the pastor collaborated with Revolt Media, a cable TV network co-founded by Combs, for an ongoing sermon series titled “Kingdom Culture with T.D. Jakes.” Combs recently divested from Revolt Media.
- Derrick Williams, executive vice president of entertainment at T.D. Jakes Enterprises, refuted claims of Jakes’ involvement in Combs’ activities, asserting that their presence at Combs’ birthday party in 2023 was brief and innocuous. “We both greeted the family, Bishop Jakes recorded a brief celebratory birthday video and left immediately to take our other scheduled meetings,” Williams said. “Any accusation to the contrary is wholly unsubstantiated, unverified, and false.”
This is the fifth lawsuit against Combs in the past year over accusations of sexual assault and sex trafficking. In this lawsuit, Jones mentions other celebrities with connections to Combs, including actor Cuba Gooding Jr., who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault, and rapper Yung Miami, who has been accused of trafficking drugs.
Jakes and his team have yet to comment on the current lawsuit.
