Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs sued Diageo Wednesday, stating the spirits business did not make promised investments in his vodka and tequila makes and taken care of them as inferior “urban” products.
The lawsuit, filed with the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, claims Diageo North America starved Combs’ Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila makes of methods even as it showered interest on other celeb brand names. Diageo acquired actor George Clooney’s Casamigos tequila model for $1 billion in 2017, for example.
Combs, who is Black, reported Diageo leadership explained to him his race was 1 of the factors it confined distribution to city neighborhoods. He was also advised that some Diageo leaders resented him for building also much funds, according to the lawsuit.
“Cloaking itself in the language of range and equality is fantastic for Diageo’s organization, but it is a lie,” the lawsuit mentioned. “While Diageo may conspicuously consist of photos of its Black associates in marketing components and press releases, its words and phrases only present the illusion of inclusion.”
Combs’ connection with Diageo dates to 2007, when the London-primarily based business — which owns far more than 200 makes, including Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin — approached Combs about Ciroc.
In a assertion, Diageo denied allegations of racism.
“This is a business dispute, and we are saddened that Mr. Combs has preferred to recast this matter as nearly anything other than that,” the company claimed in a assertion. “While we respect Mr. Combs as an artist and entrepreneur, his allegations absence benefit, and we are self-confident the specifics will exhibit that he has been addressed quite.”
In the lawsuit, Combs explained he intends to seek billions of pounds in damages in other legal proceedings towards Diageo.
