Who Is Thalia Graves? What to Know About Woman Who Accused Diddy and Bodyguard of Raping Her and Recording It

In her complaint, Thalia Graves alleges she was the victim of "brutalizing, misogynistic and violent attacks" in 2001

Thalia Graves could barely get through the press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 24, with her attorney, Gloria Allred, without breaking down.

In a halting voice, Graves, 48, of Harris County, Texas, tearfully recounted the allegations she made in a lawsuit: That Sean “Diddy” Combs and his bodyguard, Joseph Sherman, brutally raped her more than 20 years ago and recorded a video of the alleged rape that's still "in circulation."

The alleged incident, she said, had adversely affected every area of her life, and even left her contemplating suicide.

On Tuesday, she filed a 26-page complaint against Combs and Sherman, seeking damages for the harm she alleges they caused her and continue to cause her.

The complaint comes a week after Combs was arrested and charged with federal sex crimes including sex trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains in federal custody awaiting trial.

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Former Bodyguard Accused of Drugging, Raping and Recording Woman in 2001: Complaint

The allegations in Graves' complaint are among the most harrowing the public has heard to date about Combs.

Here’s what we know about Graves:

Early Life

Graves and her family immigrated to New York City when she was a teenager, settling in Rego Park, Queens, where she completed her education, according to the complaint.

She was living in Queens when she met Combs in late 1999 to early 2000, through her boyfriend at the time, who was an ambitious executive at the mogul’s company, Bad Boy Records, and a close friend of Combs', the complaint states.

Graves frequently visited her boyfriend at the Bad Boy studio in New York City and attended events at Combs’ homes. During this time, Graves “became familiar with Combs,” who knew about her relationship with her boyfriend, the document states.

Complaint Alleges Combs Lured Her into Studio

In the summer of 2001, Combs called Graves, saying he wanted to talk to her about her boyfriend’s job, the complaint alleges.

“Committed to helping” her boyfriend, she agreed to meet with Combs. Soon after, an SUV pulled up to her mother’s house in Queens, with Sherman behind the wheel and Combs in the backseat. When she got into the SUV, Combs offered her a glass of wine, which she accepted, the complaint alleges.

After just a few sips, Graves began to feel lightheaded and dizzy, allegedly from a drug that was put in the drink, the complaint claims.

She lost consciousness and when she woke up, she was naked on a pool table and her hands were tied with what felt like a plastic grocery bag, the complaint alleges.

The two violently raped her vaginally and anally, even though she lost consciousness again, and Sherman forced her to have oral sex, the complaint alleges.

According to the complaint, she allegedly woke up on the couch in Combs’ office with her dress thrown on top of her. A friend picked her up and took her to the hospital to report the alleged rape, but she was unable to leave the car, saying she was “terrified of what Combs would do to her and her family,” the complaint claims.

'Warned to Be Silent'

In ensuing years, the complaint claims Combs and Sherman contacted Graves and “warned her to be silent,” threatening her with serious repercussions including potentially losing custody of her son. Fearing Combs, she left New York City and moved to Pennsylvania, moving several times more “to stay away from Combs.”

In November 2023, Graves learned that Combs and Sherman recorded a video of them raping her, showed it to others and/or sold the video as pornography, the complaint alleges. Graves "was devastated" by the news, it says.

Combs' attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.