MIAMI – A federal court has officially cleared Emilio and Gloria Estefan of all involvement in the explosive human trafficking lawsuit tied to Sean "Diddy" Combs. The judge dismissed the case, calling the claims "frivolous," "unsupported," and "beyond implausible."
Now, in a fiery Instagram statement, the Estefans say they're preparing to take the fight to the next level, promising legal action against those who dragged their names into the scandal.
Judge Throws Out Case in Its Entirety
The lawsuit, filed by Manzaro Joseph and handled by attorney Travis R. Walker, accused Emilio Estefan of participating in a trafficking scheme and helping transport Joseph through a supposed secret tunnel between the Estefans' former Star Island home and Diddy's mansion.
But in its ruling, the court made clear: there was never any credible evidence. "None of the exhibits Attorney Walker has provided corroborate even a fraction of the factual claims," the judge wrote. "Nor would they convince an attorney of ordinary prudence that the narrative is credible."
The court sanctioned Walker for failing to investigate and noted that Joseph had a track record of filing frivolous lawsuits.
The lawsuit's most sensational claim was that an underground passage linked the Estefans' property to Diddy's, allowing people to be secretly moved between houses.
Emilio Estefan's affidavit dismantled the claim with science. "Star Island is a man-made island formed by dredging sand," he explained. "You cannot dig very far at all before you will hit water."
The judge agreed, calling the tunnel allegation an "engineering impossibility."
Gloria Estefan dismissed the story as pure "fantasy" and noted that the couple wasn't even living in the house during the period in question. At times, family members occupied it. Other times, it was rented out. The couple stressed they never hosted or attended parties with Combs.
Celebrity Name-Dropping Backfires
The lawsuit went further, alleging that Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and LeBron James attended the alleged "freak off" party on Star Island. But investigators quickly confirmed the stars were nowhere near Miami at the time.
Public records showed Jay-Z and Beyoncé were on the road, while LeBron James was busy playing basketball in Cleveland. Those claims collapsed almost immediately under scrutiny.
The ruling didn't just clear the Estefans. The court found that attorney Walker's actions crossed a line. Presenting such claims without evidence, the judge said, was reckless and harmful.
Walker has previously been reprimanded by the bar for neglecting client duties. Joseph, the plaintiff, has also faced sanctions for filing meritless lawsuits. Together, the judge said, their actions inflicted unnecessary harm on the Estefans' reputation.
The Estefans Plan to Strike Back
For Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the dismissal was a relief, but not enough. "We've spent decades building our careers, our businesses, and our family name," Emilio said after the ruling. "To see it smeared with lies hurts not only us but our children and our legacy."
The couple has confirmed they are preparing a defamation lawsuit. Their legal team says they will seek compensation for the reputational and emotional damage caused by being falsely tied to human trafficking.
Gloria Estefan added, "The truth always rises. And music, too. But they are going to have to explain themselves."
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