Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight on Thursday, attorney Lisa Bloom said her client alleged that “he groped and grabbed her body parts, sexually assaulted her, that he not only failed to pay her money that was promised to her, but actually prevented her from eating and sleeping during those years – just treated her terribly”.

Ms Bloom also claimed the singer witnessed “some severe acts of violence” by Mr Combs against his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and other women.

“And when she spoke out, she says she was threatened with more physical violence. She said Sean Combs had a vicious temper and she was absolutely terrified of him.”

Ms Ventura, also a singer, sued Mr Combs a year ago accusing him of rape and sex trafficking, and then settled the case a day later.

A video later emerged of him attacking her in a hotel corridor in 2016.

Ms Richard’s lawsuit said she witnessed him “brutally beat” Ms Ventura and tried to intervene many times, and encouraged her to leave him.

“Each time, Mr Combs learned of her efforts to help Ms Ventura and became enraged, threatening Ms Richard’s life,” the document said.

He allegedly told her “there will be consequences” if she told anyone, and warned that “people go missing”.

Ms Bloom said: “Dawn Richard, my client, says that when she spoke out about it, tried to get Cassie to speak out… When she complained about it, she was also threatened with physical violence. So [it was] just a really violent, tumultuous atmosphere.”

Mr Combs’ lawyer Erica Wolff said the rapper was “shocked and disappointed” by Ms Richard’s lawsuit and that she had “manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day”.

He was “confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court”, she added.

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