NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was sued last Friday in a California federal court for allegations that he, along with Sean “Diddy” Combs and several others, partook in a “gang rape” of a woman in 2018.
Beckham, Diddy and 11 others are defendants in an amended complaint filed by Ashley Parham and an anonymous mother and son, Jane Doe and John Doe, who were allegedly kidnapped by a defendant posing as law enforcement and witnessed the rape. Parham originally filed her lawsuit last October, and at the time, she did not identify Beckham by name.
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The complaint asserts that in February 2018, Parham met Shane Pearce, a restaurant manager and acquaintance of Diddy, in California. Parham says that to impress her, Pearce FaceTimed Diddy. The move backfired, however, when Parham told Pearce that she wasn’t impressed he knew Diddy. Also, Diddy allegedly took offense to Parham suggesting he “had something to do” with the murder of Tupac Shakur.
A month later Parham visited Pearce at his apartment in Orinda, Calif. While Parham was there, she says Diddy arrived along with several other defendants, among them the actor Drew Desbordes, better known as Druski. Parham contends Diddy immediately “antagonized” her over her comment that he was involved in Tupac’s death. Parham says the antagonization escalated with Diddy threatening to attack her with a knife while another person with Diddy said they could “sell” her.
Parham, who is represented by attorneys Shawn Perez and Ariel Mitchell, says she was then raped by multiple men, including Beckham, and drugged. Diddy, according to Parham, also warned her that no one would believe her, and that if she told anyone Diddy would make sure her family was harmed. Her retelling of events also says that while escaping, she used a knife to graze Diddy in the abdomen. Parham also claims she was shot at. As Parham tells it, law enforcement did not seriously investigate the incident and did not bring charges.
The complaint describes Beckham as part of a group who inflicted criminal acts on Parham. The complaint says Parham did not know who Beckham was at the time but found out later. He is described as smoking marijuana and cigarettes, being called “Cornelius” by other group members and having a business conversation with Diddy during which the two men discussed Parham going with Beckham to New York. At the time, Beckham played for the New York Giants.
Beckham, like the other defendants, is accused of sexual battery, sexual assault, sexual harassment, racketeering, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and related claims. Parham seeks monetary damages that would reflect physical injury, severe mental and emotional distress, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. The case is before U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin.
Attorneys for Diddy have denied Parham’s accusations, maintained Diddy was not in Orinda, Calif., on the day of the incident and stressed that police investigated and did not bring charges. Diddy is currently jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on sex trafficking and racketeering criminal charges unrelated to the Parham lawsuit. He awaits a trial scheduled to start in May, and if convicted, could face a life sentence.
Like the other defendants, Beckham, 32, will have the opportunity to answer Parham’s complaint and deny the allegations. The three-time Pro Bowler played sparingly for the Miami Dolphins last season, when he caught nine passes in nine games. The Dolphins waived Beckham last December and he has not joined another team.
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