By Sam Moore

Published on May 15, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who accused Diddy of sexual assault, has dropped several high-profile defendants from his lawsuit against the Bad Boy Records mogul.

Initially, Lil Rod’s bombshell lawsuit implicated Universal Music Group (UMG) and its chairman, Sir Lucian Grainge, alleging that they had “aided and abetted” Diddy in his alleged sexual abuse.

However, Jones, a producer who worked on Diddy’s 2023 LP The Love Album: Off the Grid, has now withdrawn those names due to threats of legal action.

The claims against Grainge, UMG, and Motown Recordings have been dismissed with prejudice, preventing them from being refiled.

Lil Rod’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, stated in a sworn declaration filed in court: “After examining all the papers submitted in support of both motions to dismiss, I have concluded that there is no legal basis for the claims and allegations made against the UMG Defendants. Therefore, I recommend withdrawing all claims and allegations immediately.”

Grainge, UMG, and Motown had previously sought to dismiss the case, arguing that the claims lacked any legally cognizable basis. They contended that the strict liability theory, which held payors liable for recipients’ actions, was untenable and baseless.

UMG was also mentioned in a lawsuit filed by a Jane Doe who accused Diddy of raping her in the early 1990s when she was just 16. UMG petitioned to be removed from that suit, emphasizing that the allegations were disturbing but lacked legal merit.

In summary, Lil Rod’s lawsuit has undergone significant changes, with high-profile defendants no longer part of the legal battle against Diddy.