Kirk Burrowes, co-founder and former president of Bad Boy Entertainment, has filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs and his mother, Janice Smalls. The suit alleges that in 1996, Diddy coerced Burrowes into relinquishing his 25% stake in the company through intimidation involving a baseball bat. This stake was subsequently transferred to Smalls. Burrowes claims that Diddy and Bad Boy attorney Kenneth Meiselas ambushed him in his New York office, with Diddy wielding a baseball bat to force the surrender of his shares.
The lawsuit contends that Smalls orchestrated the scheme and later feigned ignorance when Burrowes sought her guidance. Burrowes asserts that he was blacklisted from the music industry, financially sabotaged, and denied the wealth he helped generate for the label. He now seeks $100,000 in owed earnings, reinstatement of his 25% ownership, annual profit shares, and a comprehensive forensic audit of Bad Boy Entertainment’s finances.
Mounting Legal Troubles for Diddy
This lawsuit adds to the mounting legal challenges facing Diddy. In September 2024, he was arrested on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. He remains in custody under the New York legal system.
In a related development, one of Diddy’s defense attorneys, Anthony Ricco, has withdrawn from the case. Ricco filed a motion to withdraw, citing an inability to continue effective representation. He did not disclose specific reasons due to attorney-client privilege but assured that his resignation would not delay the upcoming trial.
Diddy’s legal troubles have intensified following numerous accusations of sexual misconduct. Notably, his ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura and other individuals have come forward with allegations of rape and abuse. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is also pursuing a $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and Ample for allegedly defamatory content in a docuseries portraying him as a criminal. The trial is set to begin on May 5, 2025.
As of now, neither Diddy nor his mother, Janice Smalls, have publicly responded to the allegations. The case continues to unfold, drawing significant attention to the internal dynamics of Bad Boy Entertainment and its leadership.