On Tuesday, September 24, New York-based attorney Gloria Allred accompanied her client, Thalia Graves, to announce another lawsuit to add to the list of charges being leveled against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Allred, 83, confirmed during the press conference that she is also representing other women — “And men,” she added — who have allegedly been victims of the 54-year-old rapper and music producer. She could not confirm whether more lawsuits would be filed against Combs.
Attorney Gloria Allred holds a press conference with Thalia Graves, an alleged victim of Sean “Diddy” Combs, on September 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Thalia Graves is suing Sean “Diddy” Combs for alleged sexual assault.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
If Allred’s name sounds familiar to readers, that’s because the attorney has been involved in many high-profile cases over the years, often involving sexual abuse by celebrities. These are some of the most famous cases the iconic lawyer has prosecuted.
Harvey Weinstein
Allred represented three of the eight women who alleged to have been assaulted by the disgraced film producer in his Los Angeles trial, although she was only able to secure one conviction. The womens’ rights activist advocated for all of her clients to be allowed to give a “victim impact statement” at Weinstein’s sentencing. In an interview with Variety, Allred said her clients “went through a grueling, challenging and brutal cross-examination, and they did it for the cause of justice. They should have an opportunity to give a victim impact statement at the sentencing, even though he was not convicted on any charges.” The request was denied, but Allred has continued to push for legislation that would allow alleged victims to speak at sentencings in California.
Bill Cosby
Allred represented 33 alleged victims of the actor, who was convicted of rape in a 2018 trial. The verdict was later overturned on a technicality, which Allred said to Variety “did not vindicate Bill Cosby’s conduct.” Allred’s daughter, Lisa Bloom, carried on the family tradition of litigating on behalf of women by representing other women who were accusing Cosby of sexual violence.
Roman Polanski
Disgraced filmmaker Roman Polanski has had several accusations of sexual violence leveled against him, including two accusations of rape of a minor that have been brought forth by Allred — one in 2010, and another as recently as March of 2024.
R. Kelly
Rapper R. Kelly has become infamous for his sex trafficking and sexual assault conviction in 2021. Allred represented three of the six victims who brought charges against him, and when the verdict was delivered, she had a warning to share with other predators. “Let this be a message to other celebrities who also use their fame to prey on their fans,” she said in an official statement. “The issue is not if the law will catch up to you, the only question is when.” She also called Kelly, 57, “the worst” sexual predator she had ever seen.
These are only a few of the cases the formidable Allred has taken on. Other notable clients have included the family of OJ Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson, Mel “Scary Spice” Brown in a paternity lawsuit against Eddie Murphy, and Melrose Place actress Hunter Tylo. According to the National Women’s Hall of Fame, Allred’s law firm has represented “more women’s rights cases than any other private law firm in the nation.”
