Judge Dismisses Ex-Diddy Employee’s Lawsuit Against Cuba Gooding Jr. & Justin Combs
This lawsuit promised scorching tales of alleged backstage misconduct by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Justin Combs—but a judge in Los Angeles had a different plan. Filed in April 2025 in LA County Superior Court by a former Diddy club employee, the complaint accused Gooding of unwanted touching at a VIP event in 2017 and Justin Combs of unsolicited advances at an afterparty in 2016. Because nothing says “I’m eager to set the record straight” like waiting eight years to file your claims. Court documents obtained by TMZ and reviewed by People Magazine exposed both the alleged incidents and a critical deadline mix-up: the statute of limitations had long since expired, rendering the suit DOA.
The plaintiff’s attorney argued that new evidence and witness recollections justified an exception, but the judge wasn’t buying it. This little legal fireworks show fizzled out on May 6 when the judge granted the defense’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, citing California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. A real crowd-pleaser move: strike before you even get to discovery. The ruling came with prejudice, which means there’s no second act—unless someone cracks open a time machine. Justin Combs’s legal team released a one-sentence statement denying all allegations, while Gooding Jr.’s reps declined to comment beyond calling the decision “appropriate.” Diddy remained characteristically silent, no doubt off perfecting his next tour set list.
Despite the dismissal, the drama wasn’t completely buried. The plaintiff hinted at an appeal, claiming the judge overlooked key testimony from two eyewitnesses who’ve never missed a Diddy show. Because if there’s one thing Hollywood loves more than blockbuster premieres, it’s a do-over. Industry insiders say this case will serve as a cautionary tale about court timing and celebrity name power—just not in any way that upends the legal world. For Gooding Jr., who’s already dealt with civil suits and criminal trials, it’s just another headline to fumble through. And for Justin Combs, this brush with courtrooms couldn’t be more ill-timed as he ramps up his music career.
In the end, the only casualty here was a chance for more juicy tabloid fodder. Tune in next time for more courtroom plot twists, questionable life choices, and the inevitable sequel nobody asked for.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, People Magazine, Variety, Los Angeles County Superior Court Filings
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
