Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accuses drinks giant Diageo of racism in US lawsuit

Rapper and producer says company undermined joint venture by marketing key products Ciroc and DeLeon as ‘Black brands’

The US rapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean Combs has sued the spirits giant Diageo, accusing the British multinational of racism, and of deliberately undermining a joint-venture spirits brand.

In a court filing on Wednesday, lawyers for Combs say Diageo and its executives have “put their feet on the neck of Mr Combs’ brands”, choking off production, distribution and sales of Combs Wines and Spirits brands, including Ciroc vodka and the high-end tequila brand DeLeon.