Liquor giant Diageo has ended its partnership with rapper and music producer Sean "Diddy" Combs after he filed a lawsuit against the company alleging racist handling of his liquor brands.
In a statement, Diageo said that Combs' lawsuit was "baseless" and that his "bad-faith actions" had left the company no choice but to end their business relationship. Diageo also said that it was ending its brand partnerships with Combs, including Cîroc vodka and DeLeón tequila.
Combs' lawyer, John C. Hueston, has said that the lawsuit is not going away just because Diageo ended its partnership. He has accused the company of trying to "distract from multiple allegations of discrimination."
The lawsuit is still ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the courts will rule. However, the decision by Diageo to end its partnership with Combs is a significant development in the case. It suggests that the company is not taking the allegations of racism lightly, and that it is prepared to defend itself against them.