What is Joi Dickerson-Neal Doing Now? An Update on Her Life Following Allegations Against Diddy for Assault

In November 2023, Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a civil lawsuit against Sean Diddy Combs, alleging that he sexually assaulted her decades earlier. The incident, according to her claims, took place in 1991 while the two were on a date. Combs has consistently denied all of the accusations made against him.

Dickerson-Neal stated that after learning about another lawsuit brought by Casandra Cassie Ventura in which Combs was accused of rape, sex trafficking and domestic violence she felt compelled to finally speak out. In the 2025 Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, she described feeling sadness for Ventura, but also relief in knowing she was not alone. That realization gave her the strength to stop hiding and come forward with her own story.

Her lawsuit was filed just days after Venturas case was settled in November 2023. In her complaint, Dickerson-Neal alleged that Combs drugged and raped her while she was a student at Syracuse University. He denied the claims, as he has done with dozens of similar accusations.

By mid-2025, reports indicated that a total of 78 sexual assault lawsuits had been filed against Combs. The accusers both women and men described being drugged and forcibly assaulted, with some stating that they were minors at the time. Combs rejected all allegations.

In July 2025, a jury acquitted Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering charges but found him guilty of two unrelated counts involving transportation to engage in prostitution. He received a four-year prison sentence in October of that year. Dickerson-Neals own lawsuit remained unresolved as of December 2025.

How Joi Dickerson-Neal Met Sean Combs

Dickerson-Neal said she first crossed paths with Combs around 1989 while attending Syracuse University and working in music video promotion. Around the same time, Combs was also involved in organizing parties and events, which led to their social circles overlapping.

She recalled attending one of his parties and helping to clean up at the end of the night. During that time, he invited her to appear in a music video for the song Straight from the Soul by Finesse & Synquis. She agreed and rode with him to the filming location. In the documentary, she explained that her role in the video was meant to show her escaping from a controlling figure.

The Alleged Assault

In her 2023 legal filing, Dickerson-Neal claimed that during a date in 1991, she left her drink unattended with Combs and soon after became unable to stand or walk on her own. She alleged that he then sexually assaulted her while she was incapacitated.

She further claimed that the incident had been recorded without her knowledge. According to her, she only learned about the alleged recording when a male acquaintance later told her that he had seen a video of the assault being shown to others. She also stated that people informed her the footage had been played at Combs private parties on a large screen.

Dickerson-Neal said she tried to reach out for support following the assault, but many people avoided getting involved out of fear of losing access to Combs social circle. Eventually, she confronted him directly about what had happened. She recalled that he denied everything while on his knees, and that this was the final time they ever spoke.

The Lawsuit and Its Impact

Dickerson-Neals lawsuit was filed under the New York State Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily allowed survivors of sexual assault to pursue civil action even if the statute of limitations had passed. That special filing window closed in December 2023.

In her legal documents, she stated that the alleged assault deeply affected her mental and emotional well-being. She claimed it disrupted her education and ultimately led her to leave college. She described the long-lasting damage done not only to her personally, but also to her family, who she said valued dignity, education and self-respect above all else.

Appearing in Sean Combs: The Reckoning

Dickerson-Neal participated in the four-part documentary series produced by 50 Cent, which explored the controversies surrounding Combs. In the series, she alleged that her mother had written to Combs parents in 1992, explaining that her daughter had woken up screaming from a nightmare after the incident. The letter reportedly expressed disbelief that someone could violate another persons dignity in such a way.

Her Life Today

Aside from her participation in the documentary, Dickerson-Neal has remained largely out of public view. She has chosen to live a private life while her legal case continues through the court system. As of December 2025, there have been no final rulings in her lawsuit against Combs.

In the final episode of the documentary, she spoke openly about the fear she has carried for years, explaining that people in positions of power can be intimidating and dangerous and that coming forward was one of the hardest decisions of her life.

Author: Noah Whitman