Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Diageo settle, withdraw lawsuits in case that accused Diageo of racism
Rapper and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs has withdrawn his lawsuit against Diageo as part of a settlement with the London-based spirits giant.
Combs and Diageo “have now agreed to resolve all disputes between them,” the two parties said in a statement released Tuesday. Diageo is now the sole owner of Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila, two brands Combs had promoted in the past, and has no business relationship with Combs going forward.
No further details of the settlement were released.
Combs sued Diageo last May, saying the company didn’t make promised investments in Ciroc and DeLeon and treated them as inferior “urban” products.
Combs, who signed a deal to promote Ciroc in 2007 and purchased DeLeon with Diageo in 2013, said the neglect worsened after Diageo bought two competing tequila brands: Don Julio in 2014 and Casamigos in 2017. Diageo owns more than 200 brands, including Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin.
Combs, who is Black, also accused Diageo of racism. In court filings, Combs said Diageo leadership told him race was one of the reasons it limited distribution to “urban” neighborhoods. Combs was also told some Diageo leaders resented him for making too much money.
Diageo denied those claims. In legal filings, Diageo accused Combs of resorting to “false and reckless” allegations “in an effort to extract additional billions” from the company.
Combs’ reputation took a serious hit after the lawsuit was filed. In November, he was sued by R&B singer Cassie, who said he subjected her to a yearslong abusive relationship that included beatings and rape. Combs settled the lawsuit with Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, a few days after it was filed.
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LONDON — King Charles III and the Princess of Wales are both dealing with medical issues that will force them to delay public engagements over the coming weeks.
Charles will undergo a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate next week, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday. The palace said the king’s condition is benign.
Moments earlier, Kate’s office announced the princess would remain at a private hospital in London for up to two weeks after undergoing planned abdominal surgery. The princess, formerly Kate Middleton, is the wife of Prince William, the heir to the throne.
While it is somewhat unusual for members of the royal family to release details about their health, publicity around the king’s surgery is seen as an opportunity to encourage other men to have their prostates checked in line with public health advice.
Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.
The princess’ office at Kensington Palace didn’t offer further details, but said her condition wasn’t cancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was hospitalized while pregnant after suffering from severe morning sickness.
Kate apologized for postponing upcoming engagements, and the palace said she wouldn't return to public duties until after Easter, Kensington Palace said.
After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family.
Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye — the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.
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Ariana Grande announced Wednesday her new album, titled “eternal sunshine,” will be released on March 8.
Last Friday, Grande released the first single from “eternal sunshine,” a house-informed pop kiss-off to the haters, “yes, and?”
News of the album first broke Dec. 27, when the two-time Grammy award winner teased the future full-length album on her Instagram page. It will be her seventh studio album and her first since her marriage and subsequent separation from real estate agent Dalton Gomez.
The album announcement arrived a few weeks after news broke that Grande signed to Good World Management firm, following her split with long-term manager Scooter Braun.
From combined wire services
