Sean “Diddy” Combs accused his enterprise associate Diageo of “unlawful retaliation” on Wednesday, heightening the authorized battle between the mogul musician and the spirits conglomerate.
Diageo, which had produced the rapper’s DeLeón tequila model and Ciroc partnership, moved to chop ties with Combs final month after he filed a swimsuit accusing the corporate of racism within the promotion and distribution of his liquor labels.
“The message is evident — for those who dare to make clear Diageo’s conduct, you’ll be punished,” Combs’ legal professionals mentioned in paperwork filed in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday and obtained by The Post.
Diageo, the world’s largest spirits firm, has requested the court docket to toss the lawsuit.
However, the submitting known as Diageo’s movement to dismiss the case “smoke and mirrors,” and requested the court docket to disregard the request.
“While Diageo has self-servingly misrepresented the targets of Combs’s lawsuit within the press, its try and retaliate in opposition to Combs for asserting his authorized rights won’t work in court docket,” Combs’ lawyer John Hueston mentioned.
A Diageo spokesperson informed The Post: “This is a enterprise dispute and shouldn’t be recast as something aside from that.”
The firm insisted it had the contractual proper “to terminate the advertising and marketing providers settlement in place for Ciroc and start the wind down of the DeLeón three way partnership.”
“Our actions are in line with our need to guard the numerous funding we’ve got made in each manufacturers and their future development. Mr. Combs’ longstanding dangerous religion actions, false accusations and breaches of contract overwhelmingly assist Diageo’s justified choice to sever ties,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The authorized feud started in May when Combs alleged Diageo “sabotaged” his DeLeón model with shoddy packaging that “made the product look low cost,” in accordance with the grievance.
Combs, 53, claimed that Diageo “didn’t assist [DeLeón and Ciroc] as promised, repeatedly failing to supply enough assist for manufacturing, distribution and gross sales,” in accordance with court docket paperwork.
The submitting alleged Diageo’s classification system labeled Ciroc and DeLeón as “city,” “African American” and “black” manufacturers based mostly on a “misguided perception {that a} black entrepreneur might solely attraction to others who shared his pores and skin shade.”
Meanwhile, Diageo “invested greater than $1 billion to amass and develop” George Clooney’s Casamigos tequila model, the grievance identified.
It additionally famous that the corporate marketed Casamigos “to customers of all races, resulting in billions in gross sales” regardless of “solely having white founders.”
Though the court docket paperwork didn’t level out how a lot cash Diageo poured into Ciroc and DeLeón, it claims that Combs was pivotal in serving to “struggling Ciroc” go “from a meager 75,000 circumstances in annual gross sales to tens of millions in only a few years.”
In Diageo’s movement to dismiss Combs’ grievance, nevertheless, the corporate acknowledged it poured “over $100 million” into the DeLeón enterprise and alleged Combs solely made a “$1,000 preliminary capital contribution.”.
Combs’ legal professional refuted the declare, saying “Combs has glad all his obligations underneath his DeLeón three way partnership settlement, together with funding.”
Hueston mentioned Combs’ settlement with Diageo known as on the corporate to fund the three way partnership and “be primarily accountable for guaranteeing enough manufacturing and distribution.”
In flip, Combs “would use his international reputation and attain to market DeLeón to customers, distributors, and retailers, an immense and vital worth to the DeLeón model.”
Combs’ relationship with Diageo dates to 2007, when the London-based firm — which owns greater than 200 manufacturers, together with Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin — approached Combs about Ciroc.
Combs has reportedly taken house practically $1 billion all through his tie-up with Diageo.
Sean “Diddy” Combs accused his enterprise associate Diageo of “unlawful retaliation” on Wednesday, heightening the authorized battle between the mogul musician and the spirits conglomerate.
Diageo, which had produced the rapper’s DeLeón tequila model and Ciroc partnership, moved to chop ties with Combs final month after he filed a swimsuit accusing the corporate of racism within the promotion and distribution of his liquor labels.
“The message is evident — for those who dare to make clear Diageo’s conduct, you’ll be punished,” Combs’ legal professionals mentioned in paperwork filed in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday and obtained by The Post.
Diageo, the world’s largest spirits firm, has requested the court docket to toss the lawsuit.
However, the submitting known as Diageo’s movement to dismiss the case “smoke and mirrors,” and requested the court docket to disregard the request.
“While Diageo has self-servingly misrepresented the targets of Combs’s lawsuit within the press, its try and retaliate in opposition to Combs for asserting his authorized rights won’t work in court docket,” Combs’ lawyer John Hueston mentioned.
A Diageo spokesperson informed The Post: “This is a enterprise dispute and shouldn’t be recast as something aside from that.”
The firm insisted it had the contractual proper “to terminate the advertising and marketing providers settlement in place for Ciroc and start the wind down of the DeLeón three way partnership.”
“Our actions are in line with our need to guard the numerous funding we’ve got made in each manufacturers and their future development. Mr. Combs’ longstanding dangerous religion actions, false accusations and breaches of contract overwhelmingly assist Diageo’s justified choice to sever ties,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The authorized feud started in May when Combs alleged Diageo “sabotaged” his DeLeón model with shoddy packaging that “made the product look low cost,” in accordance with the grievance.
Combs, 53, claimed that Diageo “didn’t assist [DeLeón and Ciroc] as promised, repeatedly failing to supply enough assist for manufacturing, distribution and gross sales,” in accordance with court docket paperwork.
The submitting alleged Diageo’s classification system labeled Ciroc and DeLeón as “city,” “African American” and “black” manufacturers based mostly on a “misguided perception {that a} black entrepreneur might solely attraction to others who shared his pores and skin shade.”
Meanwhile, Diageo “invested greater than $1 billion to amass and develop” George Clooney’s Casamigos tequila model, the grievance identified.
It additionally famous that the corporate marketed Casamigos “to customers of all races, resulting in billions in gross sales” regardless of “solely having white founders.”
Though the court docket paperwork didn’t level out how a lot cash Diageo poured into Ciroc and DeLeón, it claims that Combs was pivotal in serving to “struggling Ciroc” go “from a meager 75,000 circumstances in annual gross sales to tens of millions in only a few years.”
In Diageo’s movement to dismiss Combs’ grievance, nevertheless, the corporate acknowledged it poured “over $100 million” into the DeLeón enterprise and alleged Combs solely made a “$1,000 preliminary capital contribution.”.
Combs’ legal professional refuted the declare, saying “Combs has glad all his obligations underneath his DeLeón three way partnership settlement, together with funding.”
Hueston mentioned Combs’ settlement with Diageo known as on the corporate to fund the three way partnership and “be primarily accountable for guaranteeing enough manufacturing and distribution.”
In flip, Combs “would use his international reputation and attain to market DeLeón to customers, distributors, and retailers, an immense and vital worth to the DeLeón model.”
Combs’ relationship with Diageo dates to 2007, when the London-based firm — which owns greater than 200 manufacturers, together with Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin — approached Combs about Ciroc.
Combs has reportedly taken house practically $1 billion all through his tie-up with Diageo.
Sean “Diddy” Combs accused his enterprise associate Diageo of “unlawful retaliation” on Wednesday, heightening the authorized battle between the mogul musician and the spirits conglomerate.
Diageo, which had produced the rapper’s DeLeón tequila model and Ciroc partnership, moved to chop ties with Combs final month after he filed a swimsuit accusing the corporate of racism within the promotion and distribution of his liquor labels.
“The message is evident — for those who dare to make clear Diageo’s conduct, you’ll be punished,” Combs’ legal professionals mentioned in paperwork filed in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday and obtained by The Post.
Diageo, the world’s largest spirits firm, has requested the court docket to toss the lawsuit.
However, the submitting known as Diageo’s movement to dismiss the case “smoke and mirrors,” and requested the court docket to disregard the request.
“While Diageo has self-servingly misrepresented the targets of Combs’s lawsuit within the press, its try and retaliate in opposition to Combs for asserting his authorized rights won’t work in court docket,” Combs’ lawyer John Hueston mentioned.
A Diageo spokesperson informed The Post: “This is a enterprise dispute and shouldn’t be recast as something aside from that.”
The firm insisted it had the contractual proper “to terminate the advertising and marketing providers settlement in place for Ciroc and start the wind down of the DeLeón three way partnership.”
“Our actions are in line with our need to guard the numerous funding we’ve got made in each manufacturers and their future development. Mr. Combs’ longstanding dangerous religion actions, false accusations and breaches of contract overwhelmingly assist Diageo’s justified choice to sever ties,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The authorized feud started in May when Combs alleged Diageo “sabotaged” his DeLeón model with shoddy packaging that “made the product look low cost,” in accordance with the grievance.
Combs, 53, claimed that Diageo “didn’t assist [DeLeón and Ciroc] as promised, repeatedly failing to supply enough assist for manufacturing, distribution and gross sales,” in accordance with court docket paperwork.
The submitting alleged Diageo’s classification system labeled Ciroc and DeLeón as “city,” “African American” and “black” manufacturers based mostly on a “misguided perception {that a} black entrepreneur might solely attraction to others who shared his pores and skin shade.”
Meanwhile, Diageo “invested greater than $1 billion to amass and develop” George Clooney’s Casamigos tequila model, the grievance identified.
It additionally famous that the corporate marketed Casamigos “to customers of all races, resulting in billions in gross sales” regardless of “solely having white founders.”
Though the court docket paperwork didn’t level out how a lot cash Diageo poured into Ciroc and DeLeón, it claims that Combs was pivotal in serving to “struggling Ciroc” go “from a meager 75,000 circumstances in annual gross sales to tens of millions in only a few years.”
In Diageo’s movement to dismiss Combs’ grievance, nevertheless, the corporate acknowledged it poured “over $100 million” into the DeLeón enterprise and alleged Combs solely made a “$1,000 preliminary capital contribution.”.
Combs’ legal professional refuted the declare, saying “Combs has glad all his obligations underneath his DeLeón three way partnership settlement, together with funding.”
Hueston mentioned Combs’ settlement with Diageo known as on the corporate to fund the three way partnership and “be primarily accountable for guaranteeing enough manufacturing and distribution.”
In flip, Combs “would use his international reputation and attain to market DeLeón to customers, distributors, and retailers, an immense and vital worth to the DeLeón model.”
Combs’ relationship with Diageo dates to 2007, when the London-based firm — which owns greater than 200 manufacturers, together with Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin — approached Combs about Ciroc.
Combs has reportedly taken house practically $1 billion all through his tie-up with Diageo.
Sean “Diddy” Combs accused his enterprise associate Diageo of “unlawful retaliation” on Wednesday, heightening the authorized battle between the mogul musician and the spirits conglomerate.
Diageo, which had produced the rapper’s DeLeón tequila model and Ciroc partnership, moved to chop ties with Combs final month after he filed a swimsuit accusing the corporate of racism within the promotion and distribution of his liquor labels.
“The message is evident — for those who dare to make clear Diageo’s conduct, you’ll be punished,” Combs’ legal professionals mentioned in paperwork filed in New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday and obtained by The Post.
Diageo, the world’s largest spirits firm, has requested the court docket to toss the lawsuit.
However, the submitting known as Diageo’s movement to dismiss the case “smoke and mirrors,” and requested the court docket to disregard the request.
“While Diageo has self-servingly misrepresented the targets of Combs’s lawsuit within the press, its try and retaliate in opposition to Combs for asserting his authorized rights won’t work in court docket,” Combs’ lawyer John Hueston mentioned.
A Diageo spokesperson informed The Post: “This is a enterprise dispute and shouldn’t be recast as something aside from that.”
The firm insisted it had the contractual proper “to terminate the advertising and marketing providers settlement in place for Ciroc and start the wind down of the DeLeón three way partnership.”
“Our actions are in line with our need to guard the numerous funding we’ve got made in each manufacturers and their future development. Mr. Combs’ longstanding dangerous religion actions, false accusations and breaches of contract overwhelmingly assist Diageo’s justified choice to sever ties,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The authorized feud started in May when Combs alleged Diageo “sabotaged” his DeLeón model with shoddy packaging that “made the product look low cost,” in accordance with the grievance.
Combs, 53, claimed that Diageo “didn’t assist [DeLeón and Ciroc] as promised, repeatedly failing to supply enough assist for manufacturing, distribution and gross sales,” in accordance with court docket paperwork.
The submitting alleged Diageo’s classification system labeled Ciroc and DeLeón as “city,” “African American” and “black” manufacturers based mostly on a “misguided perception {that a} black entrepreneur might solely attraction to others who shared his pores and skin shade.”
Meanwhile, Diageo “invested greater than $1 billion to amass and develop” George Clooney’s Casamigos tequila model, the grievance identified.
It additionally famous that the corporate marketed Casamigos “to customers of all races, resulting in billions in gross sales” regardless of “solely having white founders.”
Though the court docket paperwork didn’t level out how a lot cash Diageo poured into Ciroc and DeLeón, it claims that Combs was pivotal in serving to “struggling Ciroc” go “from a meager 75,000 circumstances in annual gross sales to tens of millions in only a few years.”
In Diageo’s movement to dismiss Combs’ grievance, nevertheless, the corporate acknowledged it poured “over $100 million” into the DeLeón enterprise and alleged Combs solely made a “$1,000 preliminary capital contribution.”.
Combs’ legal professional refuted the declare, saying “Combs has glad all his obligations underneath his DeLeón three way partnership settlement, together with funding.”
Hueston mentioned Combs’ settlement with Diageo known as on the corporate to fund the three way partnership and “be primarily accountable for guaranteeing enough manufacturing and distribution.”
In flip, Combs “would use his international reputation and attain to market DeLeón to customers, distributors, and retailers, an immense and vital worth to the DeLeón model.”
Combs’ relationship with Diageo dates to 2007, when the London-based firm — which owns greater than 200 manufacturers, together with Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin — approached Combs about Ciroc.
Combs has reportedly taken house practically $1 billion all through his tie-up with Diageo.
