Rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is hitting back with a motion to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit against him, claiming it doesn't state a "single viable claim."
Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, a former producer and videographer for Diddy, is suing the artist for alleged sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York on Monday, Combs, 54, argues that the sole purpose of Jones' suit is to "generate media hype and exploit it to extract a settlement."
The motion to dismiss states that Jones' complaint is full of "hyperbole and lurid theatrics" and "fails to state a single viable claim."
Combs has requested the RICO claim against him be dismissed because Jones hasn't proven "a pattern of racketeering activity."
He is also seeking a dismissal of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) claim as Jones' "threats of force, fraud [or] coercion" allegations can't be proven, according to PEOPLE.
"Mr. Jones's lawsuit is pure fiction-a shameless attempt to create media hype and extract a quick settlement. There was no RICO conspiracy, and Mr. Jones was not threatened, groomed, assaulted, or trafficked. We look forward to proving-in a court of law-that all of Mr. Jones's claims are made up and must be dismissed." Erica Wolff, Comb's attorney, wrote in a statement to the news magazine.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Rolling Stone on Tuesday, Jones said the lawsuit has had a "tough" impact on his life that includes threats and the need for 24/7 security detail when performing.
He also told the publication that he's been "blackballed" in the music industry, adding:
"I've had many nights and weeks and months of suicidal thoughts. It's the music that has kept me living all my life."
