Former bodyguard Joseph “Big Joe” Sherman, a prominent figure in the music industry, has vehemently denied any involvement in the ongoing lawsuit brought against Sean “Diddy” Combs by Thalia Graves. Ms. Graves’ lawsuit alleges a series of serious offenses, including sexual and the distribution of revenge porn.
Sherman, the publisher of the lifestyle magazine Rhymes and Dimes, has been implicated in the case based on text message exchanges between him and Graves. However, Sherman has categorically rejected these allegations, claiming that Graves is attempting to extort Combs for financial gain and is now targeting him as a means of retaliation.
In an interview with NBC NY, Mr. Sherman categorically rejected Ms. Graves allegations against him and Mr. Combs. He asserts that while he was hired as a bodyguard by Bad Boy Entertainment in the 1990s, he was never the head of security. Mr. Sherman also claims her was no longer employed by Mr. Combs when the alleged assault took place in 2001:
“I’m not questioning her integrity. I’m questioning her claims against me. I wasn’t the head of security. You’ve got the wrong man. I’ve never seen you. I’ve never done anything negative with you. I’ve never been in the same room with you. Not only wasn’t I there, I wasn’t even in New York!”
Big Joe Sherman Denies Thalia Graves’ Allegations and Attacks Her Character
Not only did Mr. Sherman reject the allegations, he also launched a counterattack against Ms. Graves, dismissing her lawsuit as a frivolous attempt to extort money from Mr. Combs and is now targeting him as a means of retaliation:
“Her and whoever she’s in cahoots with was orchestrating a money grab and they wanted me to be part of that money grab. It says so right in those texts.”
However, the text messages contradict Mr. Sherman’s accusations of a money grab. Ms. Graves contacted him and acknowledged her belief that he was involved in the 2001 sexual assault. She offered to drop her pursuit of revenge porn and distribution charges against Mr. Sherman if he agreed to testify against Mr. Combs.
Ms. Graves attempt to bargain with Mr. Sherman in exchange for his testimony is a typical strategic move to secure justice against a primary perpetrator, in this case Mr. Combs. Mr. Sherman responded to Ms. Graves’ texts by claiming ignorance of the incident and her identity.
His rebuke of Ms. Graves’ allegations has all the features of a typical D.A.R.V.O. rebuttal, i.e. Deny, Attack, Reverse, Victim, and Offender. Mr. Sherman followed his attack on Ms. Graves with a pity play:
“I’m nothing but a scapegoat for this b.s. because I wouldn’t get Puffy and lie on Sean Combs.”
He claimed that Ms. Graves’ accusations have caused irreparable damage to his reputation, leading to the downfall of his business and straining his personal relationships.
“She knows that what she did to me destroyed my family, destroyed my livelihood. I can’t get a job.”
Mr. Sherman’s legal team has vowed to fight back against Ms. Graves’ allegations. They are currently in the process of finalizing a counterclaim to vindicate his name.
Big Joe Refutes Allegations That He Is A Pornographer
Mr. Sherman also denied Ms. Graves’ accusation of him being a pornographer. He argued that while his publication, Rhymes & Dimes, features scantily clad women, it does not fulfill the legal criteria for pornography. The magazine’s tagline, “where entertainment meets sexy,” indicates its focus on entertainment, not explicit content. Indeed, the publication showcases photos of half-dressed women, dubbed “Rhymes & Dimes Vixens”.
A quick visit to the official Rhymes n’ Dimes website reveals that Mr. Sherman is a purveyor of other publications, with titles that include Strippers (Porn Girls), Snowflakes, Big Jugz, and Pretty FatGirlz. New York State defines pornography as “visual or printed material of an explicit and sexual nature that displays sexual organs or sexual activity,” and Mr. Sherman denies that his publications contain these type of images.
Summary
Joseph “Big Joe” Sherman strongly denies the allegations made against him and his former employer, Sean “Diddy” Combs, in Thalia Graves’ lawsuit. However, the evidence Sherman has provided to support his denial appears to be shaky. Nevertheless, Mr. Sherman and his legal counsel are preparing a counterclaim that will address Ms. Graves’ allegations and seek damages for their impact on his reputation and business. Ms. Graves’ attorney, Gloria Allred, has stated that her client is eager to have her day in court and to pursue justice for the alleged sexual assault and revenge porn.