Joseph Sherman’s $100 million defamation lawsuit against Thalia Graves was thrown out by a federal judge who called the claims “patently frivolous.”
Diddy’s former bodyguard Joseph Sherman lost a high-stakes legal battle Tuesday (June 3) after a federal judge dismissed his $100 million defamation lawsuit against Thalia Graves, calling it “patently frivolous.”
The former bodyguard filed the suit in response to Graves’ explosive accusations that he and Diddy drugged, restrained and raped her in 2001 at Daddy’s House recording studio.
Sherman denied ever meeting Graves and claimed he left Diddy’s security team in 1999.
Sherman alleged Graves’ claims were “completely and utterly false” and said they caused reputational and emotional damage. He also accused her of trying to bribe her ex-boyfriend with $3 million to back her story.
But the U.S. District Court ruled Graves’ statements were protected under litigation privilege, according to Rolling Stone. The judge also found Sherman’s complaint included “several frivolous claims” beyond defamation.
Graves filed her lawsuit against Diddy and Sherman in September 2024, alleging she was 25 when she was drugged and sexually assaulted at the studio.
She said she was dating a Combs associate at the time and was given a drink that knocked her unconscious.
She claimed she woke up bound, naked and being raped by both men, and later learned in 2023 that the assault had been recorded and sold as pornography.
Graves said she suffered years of trauma and threats to stay silent.
Graves held a press conference with attorney Gloria Allred and demanded all copies of the alleged video be destroyed.
Diddy has denied the allegations and remains in custody on unrelated sex trafficking charges.
Sherman’s lawsuit also included alleged messages from Graves offering to exclude him from her case if he testified against Diddy.
The court also dismissed those claims.
The ruling marks a legal win for Graves, whose case continues to draw attention amid a wave of lawsuits against Diddy.
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