Kriti Mehrotra
It was in the early 2020s when hip-hop artist and executive Sean Combs AKA P Diddy fell from grace as several people came forward to accuse him of grooming, manipulation, sexual misconduct, and more. They did so in the form of civil lawsuits – many of which are still pending – but it all did spark further investigations that resulted in him being found guilty on the federal charge of transportation to engage in prostitution in 2025. Netflix’s ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ is a documentary series that explores not only his work ethic and rise to fame but also the allegations he faces from individuals like Joi Dickerson-Neal.
Joi Dickerson-Neal Appeared in a Music Video Alongside P Diddy
Although Joi Dickerson-Neal has always preferred to keep many details regarding her background and personal life out of the limelight, we do know that she is a proud native of Harlem, New York. That’s where she grew up in a household full of love and joy, even if it was not very financially stable, which enabled her to understand the significance of acts of kindness, human connection, and self-respect. The truth is, her mother was a Social Worker, so the family rarely had any extra money, which is why she began working as a music video promoter at a relatively early age to help pay for her tuition at Syracuse University.
It was during this period in 1989 or 1990 that Joi first came across Sean “P Diddy” Combs, who was promoting parties and rising up in the music industry as a producer/executive. The duo hence often ran in similar circles, which is why she didn’t hesitate to tag along with him and a group of others to an afterparty one night – to a house he had access to in New Jersey. At the end, she had decided to stay back to help him clean up the mud guests had tracked inside, only for them to get into an easy conversation that left a positive impression on her.
Therefore, when Diddy suddenly asked Joi to be in a music video the following day because a model had backed out, she “went along” with it as she needed a ride back to Manhattan anyway. Despite the fact that being in front of the camera wasn’t her usual thing, she agreed after a bit of hesitation, as her entire role was to just “jump out of a car” to “get away from” a pimp. So, in the same clothes from the night before, the young woman ended up featuring in “Straight from the Soul” by Finesse & Synquis, who were trailblazers for females in hip-hop.
Joi Dickerson-Neal Claims P Diddy Assaulted Her in 1991
Joi and Diddy remained acquaintances in the year to follow, that is, until he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her while they were on a date around/before the end of summer in 1991. In a civil lawsuit she filed against the once-mogul in November 2023, she claimed that she had left her drink at the table with him and later found herself unable to “independently stand or walk.” She even alleged that a friend had called her one day and claimed that the rapper had not only assaulted her but also videotaped the same to play at his parties. The claim has not been independently verified.
Joi said that the alleged incident caused her to have nightmares, adding that it was how her mother found out about it and then tried her best to help her in every way she could. The Syracuse University student subsequently approached many people she knew from the industry for assistance, but she said it didn’t yield any results. On the show, she alleged that their reply to her was either along the lines of “What do you want me to do about it?” or “If I help you, I can’t get into his parties anymore.” She said she began avoiding Diddy, further alleging that he rushed towards her when they subsequently bumped into each other and proceeded to get on his knees and swear he hadn’t drugged or assaulted her in any way.
That’s the last time Joi said she ever talked to him, realizing that if she chased answers, it could do her more harm than good in the long run. Nevertheless, as she prided herself on her dignity and self-respect more than anything else, seeing Diddy gradually thrive in the music industry always left her with the “most helpless feeling.” So, when he was widely accused of sexual misconduct by others, too, she felt vindicated before ultimately becoming the first of more than 100 individuals to file such civil lawsuits against him. The rapper responded in 2024 by requesting that her case be dismissed, denying that she had ever been alone with her and calling her claims “false” and “salacious.” Nevertheless, the case remains pending.
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Joi Dickerson-Neal is Trying to Move On With Her Life in California
As mentioned above, Joi has always chosen to keep her personal and professional experiences out of the spotlight; yet, it appears that the New Yorker is now based in California. She seemingly relocated to Inglewood in 2010, but spent time in Dana Point in 2019, and later Beverly Hills, Oceanside, and Beverly Hills again in 2020. Joi moved to Culver City in 2021, before eventually settling down with her then-14-year-old son, Malachi, in the suburban neighborhood of Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, that same year. From what we can tell, she shares her son with a man named Ron Neal. Since then, it seems like she has been serving as a professional Jewelry Maker, all the while also dabbling in teaching the same and trying her hand at the art of ceramics.
On a personal level, Joi’s loved ones are her top priority, so she does her best to spend time with them by going out, hosting get-togethers, or undertaking adventures whenever possible. The former co-curator of a 2015 African-American-focused exhibition recently even learned how to surf alongside her son, so it’s evident that she is actively choosing to feel good in the hopes of moving on. We should also mention that while she sadly lost her mother a few years ago, she continues to carry on her legacy and even honors her life by celebrating her birthday every year.
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