Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Wednesday, 25 September 2024
As the walls close in on Sean "Diddy" Combs, some of the biggest names in Hollywood are swiftly distancing themselves from the hip-hop mogul.
Diddy, 54, was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents on September 16 evening and has been charged with presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes that used his “power and prestige” for “sex trafficking, forced labour, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, drug offences, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.”
Among the celebs who have distanced themselves from the music mogul is Leonardo DiCaprio. After a photograph resurfaced of the Hollywood A-lister at one of Diddy’s star-studded ‘White Parties’ in East Hampton, a source close to the actor told The Daily Mail: “Leonardo hasn’t been in contact with Diddy for years.”
Though the actor attended a few of these parties in the early 2000s, an insider added, “They were not freak-offs. They were big house parties.”
Another actress, Megan Fox, has deleted all her posts featuring Diddy on Instagram and X.
A bunch of purported photographs from Diddy’s parties are emerging on social media as the case against him progresses. The Telegraph Online has not verified the authenticity of these pictures.
Many celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian, have been linked to Diddy’s high-profile gatherings, though none have been accused of involvement in the allegations now surfacing.
Court documents reported by AP reveal that several celebrities and high-profile individuals were secretly recorded “engaging in illegal activity” at events organised by Diddy, raising questions about who else might be implicated in the scandal.
On Tuesday, another lawsuit was filed against Diddy by a woman named Thalia Graves, accusing the music mogul and his head of security of raping her at his New York recording studio in 2001.
The lawsuit, which follows several similar cases, outlines how Graves, 25 at the time, was allegedly drugged and assaulted by the pair after being lured to Bad Boy Studios. According to the lawsuit, she regained consciousness to find herself bound inside Combs's office and repeatedly raped.
This is not the first time Diddy’s personal life has come under scrutiny. In 2017, his former chef, Cindy Rueda, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit accusing him of making her serve meals while he and his guests were engaged in sexual activity.
That lawsuit was eventually settled. He has faced other sexual assault allegations before.
The 2022 Forbes list ranked Diddy 14th among the highest-paid entertainers, with an estimated income of $90 million. His luxurious lifestyle, including his $40 million Holmby Hills mansion, have been part of headlines.
Prosecutors have alleged that he operated a criminal enterprise centred on sex trafficking, conspiracy, and violence.
As reported by the AP, Diddy’s indictment revealed some of the most disturbing accusations involving "Freak Offs", sex parties allegedly directed and recorded by Diddy. These events, often allegedly fuelled by drugs, subjected participants to horrific sexual abuse and violence, leaving them so physically and mentally drained that they required IV drips to recover.
Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has denied the charges, arguing that they stem from a “consensual but troubled” relationship between Diddy and his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassandra Ventura, known as Cassie.
Although Cassie’s name is not mentioned in the indictment, her 2023 civil lawsuit, which was ‘quickly settled’, set off a broader investigation into Diddy's activities. Agnifilo has asserted that the "Freak Offs" were consensual, asking the court, “Is it sex trafficking? Not if everybody wants to be there.”
But prosecutors maintain that Diddy used his power to manipulate and control women, often involving drugs and violence. Investigators have reportedly spoken with over 50 victims and witnesses, and that number is expected to grow.
The investigation began months before the indictment, when federal agents raided Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami, allegedly uncovering a collection of narcotics, firearms, videos of the "Freak Offs," and over 1,000 bottles of lubricant.
The raids also uncovered defaced AR-15 rifles, leading to additional weapons charges.
Among the many individuals coming forward is Adria Sheri English, a former go-go dancer at Diddy’s White Parties. She has filed a separate lawsuit alleging that she was coerced into sexual activities at these events. Her lawyer, Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, claims that English was pressured into explicit acts under the threat of career damage or physical harm.
As the fallout continues, several celebrities are scrambling to distance themselves.
A photo of Damon ‘Dame’ Dash, Jay-Z, Aaliyah, Diddy, and Jennifer Lopez from 2000 resurfaced, prompting Dash to clarify his stance. “I didn’t go to those parties… I went to one in the Hamptons about 20 years ago with Aaliyah and that’s about it,” the music industry executive said on Instagram Live. "But a lot of people were at those, you know what I mean?"
Diddy was also Justin Bieber’s mentor but after Diddy’s arrest, Bieber’s spokesperson said Justin is trying not to focus on the charges and accusations against Diddy and that he’s been in a “happy bubble” since he became a father.
Singer and actress Selena Gomez had recalled a "weird" encounter with Sean 'Diddy' Combs while dating Justin Bieber in a 2016 GQ interview. She had said: "P. Diddy gave me his valet ticket once," believing she was the valet. Admitting she wasn't offended by Diddy's snub, the former Disney star added, "Look, I see all of it. I don't care - I actually laughed hysterically when it happened. But I get it. I know what all of it is."
As the controversy erupted, Diddy’s music catalogue saw a jump in streams, with an 18.3 per cent increase in on-demand plays in the week following his arrest, according to Luminate, a music industry data and analytics firm.
(With inputs from agencies)
