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Largo man calls himself 'John Doe' in Diddy lawsuit
Jennifer Kveglis reports.
LARGO, Fla. - Jonathan Hay, a longtime producer and publicist who has worked in the music industry for three decades, said his professional relationship with Sean "Diddy" Combs began in early 2020.
That year, the estate of Notorious B.I.G. reached out to Hay about a remix project that would reimagine the late rapper’s songs as house and techno tracks. The collaboration marked Hay’s first time working with Combs, whose label, Bad Boy Records, launched Biggie’s career.
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What we know:
Hay said he later traveled to Los Angeles for a promotional photo shoot for the project. According to his lawsuit, that’s when the first assault occurred — alleging Combs engaged in sexually explicit behavior in front of him without consent.
In 2021, Hay said he was invited to an interview in Los Angeles to discuss the same project, but claims the meeting turned into a setup. In court documents, he alleges that he was physically restrained, his head was covered, and he was taken to another location where Combs attempted to sexually assault him again.
Hay said the trauma from those encounters left him struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.
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He anonymously filed the lawsuit as "John Doe" in July 2025. But, Hay said he decided to reveal his identity publicly after other lawsuits surfaced against Combs and federal agents raided the rapper’s homes earlier this year.
What they're saying:
Hay told FOX 13 News the alleged assaults left him traumatized and battling depression.
"As a man, being violated like that was the most traumatizing thing I’ve ever been through," he said.
He added that he decided to come forward publicly after other lawsuits against Combs were filed, saying he hopes to "empower other victims to speak up."
The other side:
Combs’ legal team told TMZ the accusations are "false" and "uncorroborated."
"Mr. Combs will not back down. He will fight for as long as necessary to win his full vindication," the statement said.
What's next:
The Largo Police Department confirmed it assisted the Los Angeles Police Department in its investigation. The case has been referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal charges.
The Source: Information for this story comes from FOX 13 interviews with Jonathan Hay, a statement from attorney for Sean "Diddy" Combs, court filings from the Los Angeles civil suit, and confirmations from the Largo Police Department.