Sean John Combs, or Diddy, is a man of many names, and of many controversies. The singer has now come to the forefront of a plethora of controversies, ranging from s*x trafficking to distribution with the intent of prostitution. However, this is only the surface of it.
From relatively minor issues, such as driving with a suspended license and not compensating his employees fairly, to being arrested on charges of assault multiple times, his reputation has gone through its fair share of rocky terrains. In this list, we take a look at five controversies that have smeared the titan's time in the public eye.
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Five of Diddy's widely known controversies
1) 1999 New York shooting
In December 1999, when Diddy went by the moniker Puff Daddy, he was out with his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, and rapper Shyne. The three were at a club in NYC when a shooting broke out. Following a police investigation, Combs and Shyne were arrested. The former was hit with charges relating to the ownership of weapons, and soon, the case went to trial.
Combs was acquitted of all charges with the help of his lawyers, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. and Benjamin Brafman, while Shyne was convicted and subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison. However, Combs did have to attend anger management classes. Diddy and Lopez called it quits not long after.
2) UCLA assault allegations (2015)
In June 2015, the singer was involved in an altercation between him, a coach, and a football intern during a UCLA football workout. UCLA reported that no one was seriously injured. However, Combs was arrested and hit with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of making terrorist threats, and one count of battery.
In the end, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office decided against filing assault charges against the rapper, who was 45 at the time. Instead, he was let go with a slap on the back and a simple misdemeanor charge.
“This case never should have been part of the criminal justice system to begin with,” Diddy's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said at the time in a statement.
3) Allegations of killing Tupac (2008)
In March 2008, the LA Times came out with the theory that the Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy had a hand in the murder of Tupac, who was shot and killed in 1994. They backed their claims with a plethora of alleged FBI documents. However, when it came to light that the documents were fabricated, the outlet retracted their piece.
According to their follow-up notice, the site stated,
"The Times has since concluded that the FBI reports were fabricated and that some of the other sources relied on -- including the person Philips previously believed to be the “confidential source” cited in the FBI reports -- do not support major elements of the story."
In 2012, it was revealed that Dexter Isaac was the one who killed Tupac.
4) Allegations of abuse from Cassie Ventura (2023)
In November 2023, Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him. She accused him of s*x trafficking, r*pe, and abuse during their relationship. She also contended that Diddy was the one behind Kid Cudi's car blowing up. However, things were swiftly resolved as the two reached a settlement the following day.
A few months later, CNN aired footage of the two at a hotel, wherein Diddy can be seen chasing down Ventura and subsequently beating, kicking, and dragging her. The incident took place in March 2016, and the video went viral and sparked intense backlash. Notably, several details outlined in Ventura's lawsuit, such as the mention of the term "freak offs" match the most recent allegations he has been dealing with.
5) R*pe allegations (2023-24)
In December 2023, a woman accused Combs, along with two other men, of raping her when she was underage. She claimed the incident took place in a recording studio in 2003. She filed charges against him, and the same day, Combs took to social media to refute these allegations.
“I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family, and for the truth," he stated.
Come February 2024, Combs was hit with his fifth lawsuit in the same vein. Music producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones contended that the mogul assaulted him after getting him drugged up. The producer also contended that he was coerced into engaging in se*ual acts with s*x workers. Notably, similar allegations against the rapper have resurfaced.
On September 16, 2024, Combs was arrested and his homes were raided by Homeland Security, following an investigation. The mogul was accused of severe crimes, ranging from physical and sexual violence against women to sex trafficking and racketeering. While he pleaded not guilty to all the charges, the judge ruled that he would be detained until his trial.
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