**Diageo North America Ends Business Relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs Amid Racism Claims**
Diageo North America has announced that it is cutting ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs, following the music mogul’s accusations of racism against the world’s largest spirits producer. The decision was made in response to Combs’s lawsuit, which claimed racial bias in the promotion of his Ciroc Vodka and DeLeón Tequila brands. Diageo has requested that the case be dismissed or forced into arbitration.
**Diageo Responds to Lawsuit: Calls It a “Sham Action”**
Diageo filed a response in Manhattan federal court, expressing deep disappointment in Combs for bringing the “bad faith, sham action” before the court. The company highlights Combs’s fifteen-year relationship with Diageo, which has earned him nearly a billion dollars. Diageo denies the allegations of racial bias and asserts that Combs’s claims should not be taken to court.
**Combs’s Lawyer Accuses Diageo of a Distraction Strategy**
In response to Diageo’s announcement, Combs’s lawyer, John Hueston, equated Diageo’s attempt to sever ties with his client to firing a whistleblower who raises concerns about racism. Hueston asserts that Diageo’s actions are a transparent attempt to divert attention from multiple discrimination allegations. These allegations, according to Hueston, should be taken seriously and not dismissed as a distraction.
**Combs Claims Diageo Neglected His Brands**
Combs’s lawsuit alleges that Diageo failed to adequately promote his Ciroc Vodka and DeLeón Tequila brands, despite paying lip service to promoting diversity in its business relationships. As evidence, Combs points to Diageo’s $1 billion acquisition and marketing efforts for Casamigos tequila, a brand co-founded by actor George Clooney. The suit argues that this acquisition demonstrates a bias against Combs’s brands.
**Diageo Countersues, Citing Combs’s Failure to Support His Brands**
Diageo, in its court filing, challenges Combs’s claims by stating that it was actually Combs who failed to provide sufficient support for his brands. The company claims that while it invested $100 million in the joint venture, Combs only contributed $1,000. Diageo argues that this lack of funding led to a strained relationship, damaged the DeLeón brand, and hindered its growth potential for several years.
**Both Brands to Continue Sales During Legal Battle**
Meanwhile, a Diageo spokesperson has confirmed that both the Ciroc Vodka and DeLeón Tequila brands will continue to be available for purchase as the legal dispute unfolds. While Diageo seeks to sever ties with Combs, the brands will remain on the market until a resolution is reached.
In conclusion, Diageo North America has decided to end its business relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs amidst his accusations of racism. While Diageo denies the claims of racial bias and countersues Combs for failing to support his brands adequately, the legal battle continues. In the meantime, consumers can still purchase Ciroc Vodka and DeLeón Tequila as the situation unfolds.
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