Longtime music executive Francesca Spero, 51 (pictured below, middle), is suing former employer Sean "Diddy" Combs for $12 million, claiming she was put out to pasture for being disabled and old.
Spero, who claims to have been the brains behind the discovery of countless musical megastars including Combs, had a disagreement with the hip-hop impresario. She wound up having hip surgery two years ago, then confiding to an executive that she was being treated for drug-dependency relapse.
The Long Island woman was allegedly rendered useless to the Bad Boy organization by Combs. The lawsuit also states that the iconic musical entrepreneur thought Spero made too much money and could no longer keep up with the fast pace of his business.
A celebrated industry behind-the-scenes talent, Spero met Combs back in 1988, and 10 years later, she went to work for him. As an employee with Bad Boy, the woman who was once affectionately known as "the Mom" or "Auntie" at Bad Boy, oversaw the $38-million deal between Comb's record company and Warner Bros., signed new talent and cleared musical endorsements for corporations. Spero is also credited with producing the MTV hit reality show "Making the Band."
Last March, Spero was given the boot by Combs. Her replacement is a woman who is 10 to 15 years her junior, and who supposedly, does not bring anywhere near the skill sets that Spero has secured under her belt.
A publicist for Combs released a statement saying, "There are many reasons why Ms. Spero is no longer employed by Bad Boy, but age discrimination is not one of them."