Diageo Group, the beverage company currently in the process of purchasing José Cuervo tequila, is ramping up its efforts to keep music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs out of the Cuervo advertising campaign. This latest push comes following allegations that Combs has been accused of rape.
The British giant recently filed a motion with the United States Supreme Court to stop Combs from appearing in any ads for its Tequila brand, citing the rape allegations, according to reports. The filing stated that Combs’ legal team has not been able to present “any satisfactory evidence” that Combs is innocent of the allegations.
It comes at a time when Diageo is making a major move in both acquiring the Cuervo brand and in creating a “global tequila business,” one which is estimated to be worth over $3.5 billion.
The rape allegations date back about a decade and were originally brought up by Dawn Wowens, a former employee of Diddy’s. In a 2018 lawsuit, Woowens accused Combs of “attempting to rape her” and alleged that Combs “dragged her into his bedroom and threw her against the wall.” Combs has denied these claims.
Diageo has made it clear that the company does not condone any kind of violence or sexual misconduct and is not willing to align itself with any individual facing such allegations. This recent filing could open new doors for the company concerning their acquisition of Cuervo and general stance on ethical advertising when it comes to their brand.
