In late November, music mogul Sean Combs made headlines when former partner Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against him. It saw the rapper, 54, accused of – among other complaints – sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual battery and sexual assault, and related to a relationship that began when Cassie, now 37, was 19 years old. 
The suit alleged that, after the young singer signed with Combs’ label Bad Boy Records in 2006, he began exerting control over her, which spiralled when they later began a romantic relationship. It claimed Cassie was subjected to “over a decade of violent behaviour and disturbed demands”, adding, “[She was] trapped in a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking.” It reportedly alleged that Cassie was physically assaulted, forced to engage in sex acts with male sex workers and made to carry a gun in her bag. It was further alleged that the relationship ended in 2018, when Combs raped Cassie after forcing his way into her home. Combs vehemently denied the allegations and the action was settled out of court, with Combs’ lawyer stating, “A decision to settle a lawsuit is in no way an admission of wrongdoing.” 
Days later, two more lawsuits were filed against the star. US magazine Rolling Stone reported that one complainant has accused Combs of sexual assault and creating revenge porn, and the other of alleged rape and assault. At time of press, a third woman had filed against Combs, ex-Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre and an unnamed man. Named only as Jane Doe, the woman claims the men gang raped her at a recording studio when she was 17 years old. All deny the claims. In a statement to People, Combs said, “For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” adding, “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick pay day. Let me be clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
All three suits were filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which – for a one-year period – had allowed adult victims of sexual abuse to sue decades after an alleged crime was committed. Prior to that, the statute of limitations meant survivors had only a narrow window to press criminal charges or bring a civil lawsuit. The law was brought in on 24 November 2022 and expired on 23 November 2023, during which time thousands of actions were brought, and Combs was far from the only celebrity accused of historic abuse before the deadline.  

Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, 61, was sued by Sheila Kennedy, also 61, over an alleged attack in a hotel room in 1989. The filing states that Rose “used his fame, status, and power… to manipulate, control, and violently sexually assault” the former model. Rose’s lawyer stated, “This incident never happened… Mr Rose has no recollection of ever meeting or speaking to the plaintiff and has never heard these fictional allegations prior to today. Mr Rose is confident this case will be resolved in his favour.”  

Other famous faces to have suits filed under the act were Bill Cosby and Russell Brand. Cosby, 86 – whose previous conviction for molestation was overturned – has been accused by Joan Tarshis of drugging and assaulting her around 1970, while she was young comedy writer. His spokesperson did not comment on the specific allegation. Brand, 48, is accused of exposing himself to, and assaulting, a film extra in 2010, and is also facing allegations in the UK, all of which he strongly denies.

In other proceedings, actor Jamie Foxx, 55, was accused of committing “heinous touching and sexual assault” at a bar in 2015, which allegedly left the unnamed plaintiff with PTSD. At time of writing, Foxx had not commented. And Cuba Gooding Jr, 55, is being sued by two women who previously brought criminal charges against the actor. Plaintiff Jasmine Abbay had accused the star of forcibly kissing her without her consent in September 2018, and Kelsey Harbert alleges he groped her breast in June 2019. The actor pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge relating to the case in April 2022, and was spared jail. At time of writing, Gooding Jr had not commented, while the women’s lawyer said, “Our clients were deprived of the justice they sought in the criminal case and are now seeking justice and accountability in their civil cases.”