Janice Combs, widely known as Momma Combs, is asking to be removed from a federal lawsuit accusing her of playing a role in a decades-old scheme connected to her son, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and his Bad Boy Entertainment label.
In a motion filed in Manhattan federal court, the 84-year-old denied claims made by former Bad Boy executive Kirk Burrowes. Burrowes alleges that she helped hide a 1996 deal that took away his 25% ownership stake and 15% profit share in the label. He claims that Diddy, attorney Kenneth Meiselas, and Janice Combs acted together to push him out, and that she later admitted her involvement during a 2019 conversation at a Diana Ross party.
Combs’ legal filing flatly rejects the accusations, stating she never had any ownership interest in Bad Boy or took part in its business affairs. She explained that she has lived in Florida since 2012 and has had no involvement in her son’s professional matters.
This is the third time Burrowes has pursued similar allegations. Her attorneys argue that, like the previous cases, the statute of limitations expired years before Burrowes filed his current complaint in 2025. They also insist the fraud claims lack the detailed proof required under federal rules, describing the suit as “frivolous” and “preposterous.”
The defense further argues that Burrowes’ claims for “unjust enrichment” and “conversion” are repetitive, and that the consumer fraud statute he cites does not apply.
Burrowes’ argument centers on the idea that Combs’ mother knowingly helped cover up the disputed transaction to protect her son’s control over Bad Boy Entertainment. However, her legal team says she has been unfairly dragged into a business dispute she had no part in.
The court has not yet ruled on her dismissal request, and Burrowes’ legal team has not publicly commented. If granted, the dismissal would remove Momma Combs from a case deeply tied to the history of the music industry and ongoing legal battles involving one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.
