A sexual assault lawsuit places former celebrity bodyguard Joe Sherman front and center with some heavy allegations, throwing his former employer Sean “Diddy” Combs into the mix. The man who used to be responsible for the protection of highly publicized stars now tries to protect his reputation from accusations filed by Thalia Graves, accusing him and Combs of drugging her and raping her back in 2001. As the lawsuit unfolds, Sherman again proclaims he is a victim of false accusation and is ready to prove his innocence.
Thalia Graves alleged that in 2001, she was in a New York recording studio where Sherman and Combs drugged her, raped her, and recorded the incident without her knowledge. Graves said that being drugged knocked her out, which eventually woke her up to the rape. The context of coercion continued to mount as Graves mentioned that just recently would she find out the traumatic event was recorded and distributed, hence amplifying her psychological anguish.
Graves’s complaint outlines the extreme emotional impact the alleged attack has had on her life. The woman said she has PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and an ongoing sense of trauma. Graves is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, said lawyer Gloria Allred.
The lawsuit, which is seeking major compensation, puts even more pressure on Combs as he awaits unrelated federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Graves’ accusations against Combs and Sherman have raised further questions into the powerful individuals involved in such claims as more cases emerge against Combs in particular.
However, Sherman has categorically denied any involvement. He claimed he wasn’t even working for Combs at the time of the alleged assault and that he had left his position with Bad Boy Records in the 1990s. Sherman rests his defense on the fact that the lawsuit is all part of a wider “defamation campaign” to destroy his reputation and that he never met Graves before.
“I was never in that studio, never in that situation. I don’t even remember being in New York at the time,”
Sherman said in an interview.
“This isn’t just about me, it’s about justice. I am being falsely accused because I wouldn’t lie for Diddy.”
The defense by Sherman goes all the way to place his actions in the context of a pawn being moved in a scheme against Diddy. He claims Graves, through an Instagram account he claims was hers, tried to solicit him to testify against Combs. NBC New York was able to confirm text messages that were exchanged, where Graves-or the person running her account-asked if Sherman was “Big Joe” and if he would testify against Combs, in return offering to not include him in any further legal action.
Sherman responded in a text he was perplexed, that he had never known Graves or showed anyone a video of her, as the messages said.
“I never saw this woman in my life,”
Sherman said, characterizing the texts as part of a manufactured scheme to use him as leverage against Combs.
“This is a money grab, plain and simple,” he said.
According to Sherman, the accusations have ruined his personal life and professional career.
“She destroyed my family, my livelihood—I can’t even get a job now,”
said Sherman, who is indignant because of the damages brought about by the accusations.
While Sherman keeps protesting his innocence, Thalia Graves’ attorney, Gloria Allred, shows no indication that they will cease their pursuit of justice. Allred stressed that it is of utmost importance that the powerful be held accountable for their actions-irrespective of how far back the incidents had reportedly happened, and how long it has taken for survivors to speak out.
“Our client looks forward to her day in court,”
said Allred, when asked about Sherman’s denial of the charges.
Less mincing, the attorney was on Sherman’s claim of wrongful accusation:
“The complaint speaks for itself.”
Sherman’s lawyers indicated that they will practice a countersuit for defamation, argueing that the baseless accusations have destroyed the career and private life. The defense of the models’ lawyer also argues that the accusations are simply untrue and fulfill a campaign to exploit the mounting legal issues plaguing Combs, who is charged with several other offenses, including federal sex trafficking.
This most recent lawsuit adds a new level of complexity to the growing list of legal issues Diddy must confront. The Graves versus Sherman civil action wends its way through the courts as Combs prepares to face trials on other, unrelated, yet no less character-and-integrity-destroying allegations.
This new lawsuit may have a much greater generalized effect on how Diddy can defend himself, as each one of these legal battles will affect the others. As it currently stands, no criminal charges have been filed against Joe Sherman, but the lawsuit remains well and truly alive, with both sides preparing for what is shaping up to be a long battle in the courts. Sherman continues to maintain that he is being scapegoated for something he never did, while Graves and her legal team remain committed to seeing justice for the trauma she claims to have endured.
