Former Celebrity Bodyguard Accused of Rape Denies Allegations
Joe Sherman Claims He is Being Falsely Accused and Linked to Sean “Diddy” Combs
A former celebrity bodyguard, Joe Sherman, also known as Big Joe, has denied allegations of rape made by a woman who claims she was drugged, bound, and viciously raped at the Manhattan headquarters of Bad Boy Entertainment in 2001. Sherman, who worked as a bodyguard for Bad Boy Records in the 1990s, claims he is being falsely accused and unfairly linked to Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is facing sex trafficking charges.
Allegations Against Sherman
The alleged victim, Thalia Graves, appeared at a news conference with attorney Gloria Allred on September 24, announcing a federal lawsuit claiming that Sherman and Combs were involved in the rape. Sherman has denied the allegations, stating that he was not even in the same room with the alleged victim and has never seen her before.
Sherman’s Denial
Sherman told NBC New York that he believes the allegations are a money grab and that he is being set up by false accusations. He provided texts from an Instagram account starting in November 2023 that he says his team has linked to Graves, which he claims show that she was trying to recruit him as a witness against Combs.
Text Messages
The texts ask Sherman if he is indeed a security guard for Combs and offer to leave him out of any proceedings if he agrees to testify against the rapper. Sherman responded by saying he did not know what the texts were talking about and that he had never seen or met the alleged victim.
Sherman’s Legal Team
Sherman’s legal team has stated that they are planning to file a counterclaim in a matter of days that will likely include defamation allegations. Sherman has also claimed that he is being unfairly linked to Combs and that he is being used as a scapegoat.
Conclusion
The case is ongoing, and both sides have presented their accounts. While Sherman denies the allegations, the alleged victim and her attorney maintain that the evidence supports her claim. The case highlights the complexities of sexual assault cases and the importance of a thorough investigation.
FAQs
Q: Who is Joe Sherman?
A: Joe Sherman is a former celebrity bodyguard who worked for Bad Boy Records in the 1990s.
Q: What are the allegations against Sherman?
A: The alleged victim, Thalia Graves, claims that Sherman and Sean “Diddy” Combs were involved in her rape in 2001.
Q: How has Sherman responded to the allegations?
A: Sherman has denied the allegations, stating that he was not even in the same room with the alleged victim and has never seen her before. He claims that the allegations are a money grab and that he is being set up by false accusations.
Q: What is the status of the case?
A: The case is ongoing, and both sides have presented their accounts. The alleged victim and her attorney maintain that the evidence supports her claim, while Sherman and his legal team claim that the allegations are false and that he is being unfairly linked to Combs.
