Diddy Scores Legal Win In Diageo & DeLeon Tequila Case, Will Move Forward

BYGabriel Bras Nevares550 Views
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"The Love Album" Listening Party
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Diddy attends "The Love Album" Listening Party on September 07, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
While the liquor conglomerate wanted to dismiss this case or settle it privately, the Bad Boy mogul will have his day in state court.

In the ongoing case of Diddy versus Diageo, the company that allegedly mismanaged his DeLeon tequila brand and was discriminatory, he just scored a significant victory. Moreover, the liquor conglomerate motioned to dismiss the case altogether or reach private settlement, according to court documents from Thursday in New York state court. The Bad Boy mogul watched as Judge Joel M. Cohen rejected these proposals, thus moving the case forward into state jurisdiction and opening the trial to the public. Sean Combs initially filed this lawsuit in May. It claimed that the company breached its partnership deal by failing to support profits and promotion,

Furthermore, this also prompted accusations of racism from Diddy, as he claimed Diageo mistreated their agreement due to his race in comparison to their other lucrative deals. In June, the company denied any and all claims, accusing the musician, executive, and businessman of trying to squeeze even more money out of them. They severed ties with him, alleging that he "repeatedly undermined [their] partnerships. [He] threatened to publicly defame Diageo if [they] did not meet his unreasonable financial demands," according to a spokeswoman.

Diddy At Invest Fest 2023

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 26: Sean Combs Onstage during Invest Fest 2023 at Georgia World Congress Center on August 26, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images)

In addition, Diageo labeled Diddy as "an unreliable and untrustworthy business partner" who did not fulfill his responsibilities in the deal. Simultaneously with these claims, they motioned for dismissal or closed-doors settlements, given that the parties signed a binding arbitration agreement. Still, the judge did not grant these requests after hearing arguments on both sides for over 90 minutes. "This case has always been about getting fair and equal treatment," John Hueston, Combs' lawyer, stated. "Today’s decision is an important step in the right direction. Diageo tried to end this action. Today the judge soundly rejected that effort."

"I’m fighting for fair and equal treatment for everyone," the hitmaker chimed in. "This isn’t just about me. I look forward to continuing this fight in court. We all deserve the same 24 hours." Here's what a spokesperson for Diageo had to say about this. "While we are disappointed with yesterday’s procedural decision, it is important to underscore that this is not a ruling on the merits of the claims, which we maintain are false and baseless. We are currently considering all legal options." On that note, check back in with HNHH for the latest updates and more news on Diddy.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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