Diddy’s Mom Sued For Allegedly Seizing Bad Boy Ent. From Kirk Burrows

The filing further alleges that Burrowes, overwhelmed with fear, had “tears streaming down his face” and was “clearly unable to resist under the circumstances.” Smalls-Combs, who wasn’t present at the time of the incident, allegedly claimed ignorance of the encounter when Burrowes sought her advice. However, he claims she was complicit, directing the entire scheme behind the scenes.

Although Smalls-Combs wasn’t there for him at the time, he alleged that he provided personal counsel to her many times during alleged instances of physical abuse at the hands of her son. He claims to have witnessed Diddy “aggressively overpowering” his mother and using “derogatory slurs” against her.

The 62-year-old asserts that Smalls-Combs, 84, played part of an orchestrated effort to take over control of the company, and since then, it has left him homeless in New York City with extreme financial hardship. At one point Burrowes also served as President of the company, as well as chief operating officer and general manager.

The lawsuit details an alleged campaign to erase Burrowes from the music industry, with claims that Smalls Combs engaged in “a decades-long scheme of intimidation, violence, fraudulent misrepresentation and financial concealment” to maintain control.

The complaint also accuses the defendants of systematically sabotaging Burrowes’ career, by blacklisting him from the industry, denying him business opportunities and destroying his reputation.

Burrowes, who played a key role in securing one of Mary J. Blige’s biggest hits, “Family Affair,” through West Coast producer Dr. Dre, claims that despite his efforts, Diddy worked to undermine his career. He says that from 1992 to 1997, his salary increased from a modest $30,000 to $125,000—far below what he was promised given Bad Boy’s success. He also alleges that Diddy and his mom repeatedly failed to honor financial commitments, including a 2019 promise at Diana Ross’s birthday celebration to “make things right.”

Burrowes asserts that he invested $100,000 into Bad Boy Entertainment at its inception and is now seeking restitution for lost profits, reinstatement of his ownership stake, and a forensic audit of the label’s finances. Despite providing historical records and even materials for a documentary on Bad Boy Entertainment in 2021, Burrowes says he was once again deceived and left unpaid for his contributions. The lawsuit alleges that Diddy and his mother continued to profit from his hard work while he languished in financial ruin.

Burrowes’ attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, stated to DM, “We are confident that the legal process will hold those responsible accountable and ensure that justice prevails.” Burrowes also issued a direct message to Diddy’s mom. “Janice Smalls, we started this out as a family unit, and I believed in Sean’s talent,” he stated. “I had a talent too, and I delivered… I looked out for your family, and you let them, as well as yourself, destroy mine. See you in court.”

This latest lawsuit comes as Diddy remains incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting trial on a slew of charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. The “Gotta Move On” rapper has been repeatedly denied bail since his September 2024 arrest.