In a striking and unsettling development, former model Crystal McKinney has accused two of the most notorious figures in the entertainment industry—Sean "Diddy" Combs and Harvey Weinstein—of sexual assault. The allegations, spanning incidents from 2003, have reignited discussions about abuse of power in Hollywood and the music industry, highlighting the ongoing struggles survivors face in seeking justice.
McKinney, who first came into public view when she won an MTV modeling competition in 1998, has had a career that included high-profile modeling gigs with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and appearances in publications such as Elle and Cosmopolitan. She also ventured into acting, with roles in films like What Women Want (2000) and television shows including Total Request Live (1998). However, her promising career was marred by traumatic experiences she alleges occurred in 2003, which she has now brought to light through multiple lawsuits.
In May 2024, McKinney filed a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, accusing the music mogul of drugging and sexually assaulting her following a Men's Fashion Week event in New York City. According to the complaint, McKinney was 22 when she met Combs at Cipriani, a celebrity hotspot. After dinner, she alleged that Combs repeatedly refilled her wine glass and later invited her to his 44th Street studio, where she found him and several associates passing around a bottle of Hennessy and joints. One associate reportedly asked if she smoked weed, telling her, "You've never had weed like this before," suggesting the joint was laced with narcotics or intoxicants.
McKinney claims she felt pressured to partake and that Combs, who is currently on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges, physically led her to a bathroom where he forced himself on her, kissing her without consent and compelling her to perform oral sex. She described losing consciousness and later waking up in a taxi, with modeling opportunities soon drying up, which she believes was due to Combs blackballing her within the industry. The emotional toll was devastating; McKinney reported experiencing anxiety, depression, and even attempted suicide in 2004, alongside struggles with alcohol and drug addiction as coping mechanisms.
Combs has denied all charges and maintains his innocence, with his legal team stating, "No matter how many lawsuits are filed—especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims—it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor." Nevertheless, his trial continues in Manhattan, where he faces five counts including sexual assault, trafficking, and racketeering, with potential sentences ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment if convicted.
Meanwhile, McKinney’s allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced film producer, surfaced in an amended lawsuit filed anonymously in February 2025 and publicly revealed on May 30, 2025. The complaint details a harrowing account of abuse that allegedly took place in 2003 in a Manhattan hotel room.
According to the lawsuit, McKinney received a call from an unnamed modeling agency executive who arranged a meeting with Weinstein at a popular lounge in New York’s West Village, purportedly to discuss potential acting roles. McKinney brought along her friend and roommate, also a model, hoping her friend would also be considered for roles. Weinstein reportedly insisted on moving the meeting to his hotel room, citing the lounge’s noise and crowd.
Once at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel, McKinney alleges that Weinstein "plied" them with alcohol, ordering several bottles of Boulevardier, Dom Perignon, gimlets, and vodka cocktails. She described being "disgusted but too frightened to voice her opposition" as she became heavily intoxicated. The complaint recounts Weinstein grabbing her chest and ripping her tank top, prompting her to flee to the bathroom with her friend following.
Disturbingly, Weinstein is said to have barged into the bathroom, leering at McKinney through her soaked tank top, demanding the women strip and join him in the bathtub. The women complied, feeling trapped and fearing retaliation. Weinstein allegedly exposed himself and forced the women to engage in sexual acts with each other, taking perverse pleasure in watching. The assault escalated as he dragged them to the bedroom, where he raped McKinney and then her friend before abruptly leaving the room.
Following the assault, Weinstein’s assistant called the hotel room, and when informed of the incident, told the women to leave immediately without addressing their complaints. The emotional aftermath for McKinney has been severe, including depression, anxiety, anger, self-blame, suicidal thoughts, body image issues, and demoralization.
Weinstein, 73, was convicted in New York in 2020 on rape and sexual assault charges and sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, his convictions were overturned in April 2024 by the New York Court of Appeals, which ruled that he did not receive a fair trial due to the admission of testimony from women whose accusations were unrelated to the charges. He is currently serving a 16-year sentence on Rikers Island for separate California sex crime convictions and is awaiting a retrial in New York.
Weinstein’s attorney, Imran H. Ansari, has categorically denied McKinney’s allegations, calling them "outlandish and fantastical" and suggesting they were filed "late in time and suspiciously on the heels of her complaint against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs," implying an opportunistic motive behind the claims.
The parallel legal battles of Combs and Weinstein, both facing serious sexual misconduct allegations from McKinney and others, underscore the complex and often painful path survivors navigate in pursuit of justice. McKinney’s courage in coming forward with her stories highlights the enduring impact of sexual violence and the importance of holding powerful figures accountable.
For those affected by sexual harassment, assault, or rape, resources are available. In the United States, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides support, while in the United Kingdom, the Rape Crisis charity offers assistance.
As these high-profile cases unfold, they serve as a stark reminder of the entertainment industry's ongoing reckoning with abuse and the critical need for systemic change to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and harm.
