Guinness owner responds to Diddy's accusations of racism

Pi Diddy has worked with Diageo on two brands, Cîroc vodka and DeLeón tequila, for the past fifteen years. Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage The creator of Guinness and Johnny Walker has responded to P Diddy's accusations of racism as «false and reckless» as he tries to close the lawsuit against the rapper.

In legal documents filed this week and seen by The Telegraph, London-listed company Diageo said it paid P Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, «massive sums of cash over many years» to was an ambassador and marketer for its drinks.

Mr Combs accused Diageo, which also owns the Smirnoff brand, of racism in a lawsuit filed earlier this month. Diageo has asked the New York Supreme Court to either arbitrate the case or dismiss it.

Mr. Combs has worked with Diageo on two brands, Cîroc vodka and DeLeón tequila, for the past fifteen years, but claims Diageo has treated them differently than those owned by white celebrities such as like George Clooney.

In the case of DeLeon tequila, which Mr. Combs bought as a joint venture with Diageo in 2014, he claimed that Diageo «virtually abandoned DeLeon» by focusing on other drinks such as Mr. Clooney's Casamigos, Aviation Gin , which is led by Ryan Reynolds and Ketel One Vodka.

However, Diageo said it has invested more than $100m (£78m) in the brand, while Mr Combs invested «only $1,000».

The documents claimed that he had «a clear financial incentive to make all of his brands (including those Combs sells or has an interest in) as successful as possible.»

As a result of the lawsuit, Diageo said it had ended its relationship with Mr. Combs.

A company spokesperson said: “We are saddened that Mr. Combs has decided to reframe the business dispute as something otherwise and choose a way to damage a productive and valuable partnership.

«Mr. Combs's bad faith actions clearly violated his contracts and left us no choice but to dismiss his unfounded complaint and terminate our business relationship.» Ciroc and DeLeon and «have been trying for years to salvage the broken relationship with Mr. Combs.»

«We have exhausted all reasonable means and see no other way forward.»

John Huston, lawyer for Sean Combs , commented: «Diageo's attempt to end its dealings with Mr. Combs is like firing a whistleblower who calls for racism. This is a cynical and transparent attempt to divert attention from the many allegations of discrimination.

“Over the years, he has repeatedly expressed concern that senior executives made racially insensitive comments and made biased decisions based on this point of view.< /p>

“Diageo even acknowledged the problem by agreeing in their contract to treat DeLeon the same as other tequila brands. He filed a lawsuit to force them to fulfill this contract, and instead they try to get rid of him in return. This lawsuit and Mr. Combs are not going anywhere.”