Sean “Diddy” Combs drops racism lawsuit against spirits brand Diageo

Rapper and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs has dropped his lawsuit against Diageo as part of a settlement with the London-based spirits giant.

Combs and Diageo “have now agreed to resolve all disputes between them,” the two sides said in a statement Tuesday. Diageo now is the sole owner of Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila, two brands Combs co-owned and promoted in the past, and has no future business relationship with Combs.

No further details of the settlement were provided.

In May, Combs sued Diageo, claiming the company failed to make promised investments in Ciroc and DeLeon and treated them as inferior “urban” products.

Combs, who signed a deal to promote the Ciroc brand in 2007 and bought DeLeon with Diageo in 2013, said the neglect deepened after Diageo bought two rival tequila brands: Don Julio in 2014 and Casamigos in 2017 Diageo owns over 200 brands, including Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin.

Combs, who is black, also accused Diageo of racism. In a lawsuit, Combs said Diageo executives told him that race was one of the reasons for limiting distribution to “urban” neighborhoods. Combs was also told that some Diageo leaders resented him for making too much money.

Diageo has denied the claims. In legal documents, Diageo accused Combs of making “false and reckless” allegations “in an effort to extract additional billions” from the company.

Combs’ reputation took a serious hit after the lawsuit was filed. In November, he was sued by R&B singer Cassie, who claimed he had subjected her to a years-long, abusive relationship that included beatings and rape. Combs settled the lawsuit with Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, days after it was filed.

Sean “Diddy” Combs accuses a racist alcohol company that neglects its vodka and tequila brands

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy drops racism lawsuit against Diageo