Diddy: Behind the Sensationalism

Editorial Assistant, Sarah Shahid, takes a closer look into the Diddy case, which has recently made international news headlines. 

Trigger Warning: This story contains details regarding abuse and sexual exploitation

The Case (so-far) 

Chances are if you’ve been anywhere on the internet in the past few months, you’ve likely heard the words: freak-offs, white party, and Diddy in relation to one another. Either through memes on X (formerly known as Twitter), or clickbait news articles, or even the comment sections on Instagram; this case has spread to all facets of online existence. 

But who even is Diddy? And what are these ‘white parties’ that your favourite celebrities have been spotted at?

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, aged 54, is responsible for founding Bad Boy Records (BBR), where he’s signed artists such as Cassie, The Notorious B.I.G., French Montana, and MGK. Aside from starting his own record label, Combs is also behind the network and media company Revolt TV, and the sportswear company Sean John. He’s a key figure within the music industry, with connections to some of the most beloved artists in the Hip-Hop scene.

Yet, the past few months have seen unprecedented change to his reputation, with Combs stepping down from his position at Revolt TV, and returning music rights to the artists signed under BBR. Raids were also conducted on his Los Angeles and Miami residences in March, resulting in Homeland Security finding over 1000 bottles of baby oil. Several months later, Combs is currently in jail after being refused bail twice, awaiting his trial for the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. 

Though the allegations against Combs span back decades of criminal action, the cases only properly began in November 2023, when Combs’ former partner Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura launched a lawsuit against him. The lawsuit alleged that Ventura was routinely physically and sexually abused by Combs, who would also force the artist into sexual encounters with male sex-workers for his own gratification, which would then be recorded. Despite the severity of the allegations, this suit was settled immediately the day after.2 Following Ventura, Liza Gardner also filed a lawsuit in the same month, alleging that Combs, along with musician Aaron Hall, had assaulted her and a friend. 

At present, there are over 120 cases launched against Combs, both men and women alleging him and his staff/associates of abusive behaviour and misconduct. One of the more notable cases to emerge this year is by a former producer/videographer for Combs himself, Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones. Jones has accused Combs of sexually harassing and drugging him, along with grooming him into aiding with his criminal actions. Jones also claims to have secured “hundreds of hours of footage and audio recordings of Mr Combs, his staff, and his guests engaging in serious illegal activity.”2 This illegal activity supposedly includes soliciting sex workers, and providing laced drinks to minors. 

Though an untold number of rumours surrounded the presence of minors at these events, it has only been confirmed recently by prosecution themselves. Tony Buzbee, a Houston lawyer representing the 120 new accusers, has stated that 25 of the victims were minors during the time of abuse. While children would be present at white parties, they were supposedly sent home by Combs after a certain hour, with him commenting: “this thing turns into something that when you get older… y’all gonna want to come to.”

The esteemed ‘White Party’

The first white party took place in the Hamptons, on 7th September 1998, with around 200 people in attendance. Following its name, all attendees were dressed in white from head to toe, with those in attendance ranging from big-name celebrities to Combs’ family and friends. According to him, the mixed audience of these parties was deliberate in “breaking down racial barriers, breaking down generation barriers.”4 

Whilst the party started with ‘humble’ beginnings, it would reach a sort of cult-status in Hollywood, boasting celebrities such as Aretha Franklin, Beyonce and Leonardo DiCaprio in its attendance. Despite its popularity with those in the higher upper echelons of society, it was last co-hosted by Combs on 4th July 2009 with Ashton Kutcher and then never resurfaced again. 

Though there has been confusion and speculation surrounding the role (if any) played by the white parties, they are not directly related to the staged ‘freak offs.’ 

Whilst the parties would have hundreds in attendance, the freak-offs were far more exclusive with only the closest of Combs’ associates present. According to witnesses, these so-called freak-offs were held in hotels where Combs’ staff would ensure that women and male sex-workers were forced to have drug-fuelled marathon sex for him and his guest’s viewing pleasure. These rooms were stacked with baby oil and lube, with all activity being recorded for blackmail purposes, in order to prevent the unwilling participants from retaliating against Combs in any form. 

A Culture of Silence 

Considering the ‘production value’ of these staged events, there would need to be a significant number of individuals who were aware of and who knowingly contributed towards the freak-offs occurring behind hotel doors. Ranging from Combs’ bodyguards to associates to security guards and hotel employees, the web of people involved would make this a criminal enterprise. 

Whilst Combs is at the centre of this fiasco, he’s far from the only perpetrator. 

“These allegations reveal not only a gross abuse of personal power but underscore a systemic use of networks and his employees to perpetuate sexual violence,” stated Goss Graves, co-founder of Time’s Up Legal defence fund. 

Both Cassie and Gina Huynh, past girlfriends of Combs’, claim that those around the celebrity were well aware of the abuse they were undergoing, though this certainly did not prevent or reduce the violence inflicted on them. 

Supposedly, Combs has a history of being volatile and explosive outside his intimate relationships, with employees of BBR doing their best to keep a lid on his behaviour. Ex-partner of BBR, Kirk Burrowes, claims to have once witnessed Combs attack a woman in the office, which resulted in him and another employee having to tear the man away from her. 

Activist and co-founder of #MuteRKelly campaign, Oronike Odeleye, considers the music industry to be “built on exploitation. Behind all of the sensationalism, the drama and the rumours are actual survivors, people who lived through these experiences.”6 

Combs is far from the only person within the industry, or in Hollywood at large, whose predatory behaviour has evaded notice for decades. One needs only look at Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, or Roman Polanski, the latter of whom had a petition for his release, signed by around 100 celebrities, many of them beloved by the public. 

Though the actions of these men are clearly morally reprehensible, they still have defenders and those that ride on the coattails of their power. 

Diddy is not the first of his kind, and he might not be the last as long as this abusive culture of silence continues to pervade Hollywood.

ENDNOTES

[1] Gbogbo, Mawunyo. “What’s Happening with Diddy? The Past, Present and Future of Sean Combs - ABC News.” ABC News, 25 Sept. 2024, www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-25/what-did-p-diddy-do-federal-charges-jail-arrest/104388542. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.

[2] González-Ramírez, Andrea. “All of the Allegations against Diddy.” The Cut, 5 Apr. 2024, www.thecut.com/article/diddy-allegations-sexual-abuse-cassie.html. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

[3] “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused of Sexually Abusing Another 120 People, Including 25 Minors.” SBS News, 2024, www.sbs.com.au/news/article/sean-diddy-combs-accused-of-sexually-abusing-another-120-people-including-25-minors/oa2oc7ecq. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

[4]  Mitchell, Rebecca. “What Was a Diddy White Party, & Which Celebrities Were There?” ELLE, 26 Sept. 2024, www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/diddy-white-party/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

[5]  Louallen, Doc, et al. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Indictment Explained: Alleged ‘Freak-Offs,’ Drugs and Prostitution.” ABC News, 27 Sept. 2024, abcnews.go.com/US/sean-diddy-combs-indictment-explained-alleged-freak-offs/story?id=113928538.

[6]  Adams, Char. “How Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Wielded Power and Prestige to Fuel Decades of Alleged Abuse.” NBC News, NBC News, 21 Sept. 2024, www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/sean-diddy-combs-power-prestige-alleged-abuse-how-rcna171496. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.

[7]  Gee, Andre. “Who Are the Men Now Exposing Diddy, Really?” Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2023, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/former-employees-now-exposing-diddy-1234911067/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

[8]  Dillon, Cheyenne Roundtree,Nancy, et al. “Bad Boy for Life: Sean Combs’ History of Violence.” Rolling Stone, 29 May 2024, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/. Accessed 30 May 2024.