Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. is now facing more legal troubles, this time being accused of sexual assault by a music producer who previously filed a lawsuit against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In an amended civil complaint filed Monday in a New York federal court, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones has named Gooding as a defendant, alleging the Jerry Maguire star sexually harassed and assaulted him after being introduced on Combs’ yacht in the Virgin Islands in January 2023.
According to the filing, Cuba Gooding Jr. began “touching, groping, and fondling” Jones’ legs, inner thighs near his groin area, lower back near his buttocks, and shoulders. Despite Jones rejecting these unwanted advances and pushing the actor away, the assault allegedly continued until he was forcibly removed.
The allegations arrive just months after Gooding pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to forcible touching accusations from three different women at NYC nightclubs in 2018 and 2019. The 56-year-old, known for his partying lifestyle, has not yet responded to the new claims.
Jones’ lawsuit implicates several other celebrities beyond Gooding, accusing them of sexual misconduct and exploiting women at Combs’ infamous sex parties. It alleges that the Bad Boy Records founder “failed to step in” when Gooding assaulted Jones and that the music mogul recruited sex workers while referring to the events as “freak-offs.”
The case has been moving full-steam, with federal agents raiding two of Combs’ mansions on Monday, hours before the amended complaint was filed. Though not accused of wrongdoing, the suit names Prince Harry to illustrate how the association with Combs provided “legitimacy” and access to high-profile figures.
