Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accuses Liquor Partner Diageo of Racism (2)

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs sued Diageo North America Inc., his partner on the Ciroc Vodka and DeLeón Tequila brands, claiming the spirits maker pays lip service to diversity while treating Black entrepreneurs worse behind the scenes.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New York state court, accuses Diageo of making false promises about its diversity efforts while it “kneecapped” the liquor products backed by Combs, which it had “typecasted” as “Black brands” that should only be marketed to “urban” consumers.

“In a business where production, distribution, and sales are the pillars of success,” Diageo and its leaders “have ...