This time last year, Diddy was flying high. In 2023 he was solidifying his legacy as a global entertainment mogul, receiving several prestigious honors, including the Global Icon Award at the 2023 VMAs, in recognition of his lasting influence on music and culture and was even awarded the keys to the city of New York by the now-disgraced mayor, Eric Adams.
Just a month later, his prosperous year abruptly ended when Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura (known professionally as Cassie) filed a lawsuit alleging a long history of abuse. In the lawsuit, she alleged that not long after she met him at age 19 in 2005, he began a pattern of control and abuse that included drugging her, beating her and forcing her into sex acts which he filmed. The suit also alleges that in 2018, Diddy forced his way into her home and raped her when she tried to break things off.
Then, in May of this year, a video of Diddy violently beating Cassie surfaced. In the video, it appears that she is trying to leave the InterContinental hotel in LA where it is assumed that a “freak off” was taking place. Freak offs are commonly referenced in this case, meaning “elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded,” per court documents.
Cassie’s lawsuit and the subsequent release of the surveillance footage spawned a flurry of legal strife for Diddy, culminating in a federal indictment. Diddy was officially indicted on federal sex trafficking and racketeering (organized fraud) charges on September 15.
The indictment covers explicit details of Diddy allegedly assaulting several women dating back to 2008. He is accused of “verbal, emotional, physical and sexual” abuse and that he “hit, kicked, threw objects at, and dragged victims, at times, by their hair” in assaults that took “days or weeks to heal” from. The raids of Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami homes resulted in the seizure of “Freak Off” suppliesm including drugs and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, according to the prosecution.
His trial date is set for May 5, 2025.
Much like rumors about Harvey Weinstein swirled around Hollywood for decades, Diddy’s Freak Offs have long been an open secret in the music industry. Let’s re-examine some past comments, shall we?
Usher
When Usher was just 13 and trying to get his foot in the music industry's door, he spent a year living with Sean "Puffy" (at the time) Combs. In a 2016 interview with Howard Stern, Usher opened up about that experience, hinting at some things that were a bit off. He said he didn't really "understand what [he] was even looking at" and that "very curious things [were] taking place." Noticeably, he also mentioned he wouldn't want his own kids attending "Puffy camp" like he did.
On top of that, Usher's protégé, Justin Bieber, spent a few days with Diddy as well. There's some speculation that a fake phone number Bieber later gave to Combs might be a subtle sign that he wasn't comfortable with Diddy having access to him.
Kanye
In 2022, Kanye called Sean Combs a "fed," claiming he sold people out to avoid jail time. Now, since Kanye is famous for making unfounded accusations, his statements were not taken seriously.
These comments are particularly interesting due to Kanye’s recent allegations involving Diddy. According to Entertainment Weekly, Lauren Pisciotta, a former assistant to Kanye, alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted during a studio session co-hosted by Diddy. Pisciotta, who worked for West from 2021 to 2022, claims in a lawsuit that West committed "sexual battery" by serving her a laced drink. These allegations are part of an ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit against West. In this lawsuit, she previously claimed to have been subjected to explicit texts, pornographic content and inappropriate phone calls before being fired.
At present, she has not accused Diddy of wrongdoing in this amended complaint.
50-Cent
Fiddy and Diddy’s beef goes way back. 50 released a diss track back in 2006 “The Bomb” and alleged that Diddy knew the identity of Notorious BIG’s killer. He has also stated that he believes Diddy is connected to the murder of Tupac. He is not the only person who has accused him of such things. Currently, 50 continues to troll Diddy on social media and is planning a docuseries, to be released on Netflix.
Aubrey O’Day
Poor thing has worked underneath Diddy AND Donald Trump. Aubrey O’Day first rose to fame via Diddy’s Making The Band series, becoming part of the girl group Danity Kane.
She alleges mental and emotional abuse as well as grooming. Back in 2012, during an episode of The Apprentice, Donald Trump mentioned his admiration of Diddy, calling him a "good guy" and a "good friend” while asking about Aubrey’s experience with him. She appeared uncomfortable when she replied, "I don't want to answer that question."
Aubrey left Danity Kane in 2008 and has always been vocal about her experiences with Diddy hinting at a more sinister side of the music industry.
Kim Porter
Kim Porter was a model and actress who was romantically involved witih Diddy from the mid 1990’s through 2007. You might’ve seen that her alleged “memoir” went viral after the indictment, but her 4 children she shared with Diddy claim that it is fake. In the wake of the family’s uproar, Amazon has pulled it from “shelves.” However, it details physical abuse and sexual exploitation. Kim passed away of lobar pneumonia in 2018, before completing the alleged memoir.
Tune into last week’s podcast episode for more!
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