White Parties
Combs held a series of parties known as White Parties
between 1998 and 2009. The parties had a strict all-white dress code. A 2024
New York Times article stated that in the 2000s "few events held the cultural cachet". CNN commented that
"there was a time when one of the
hottest summer tickets belonged to anyone who was able to score an invite to
party" with Combs, and that the parties "marked the peak of his cultural influence".
Legal issues
In 1997, Combs was sued for landlord neglect by Inge Bongo;
Combs denied the charges. On April 15, 1999, shortly after the music video for
Nas' "Hate Me Now" aired on
MTV featuring Combs being crucified, he and two others burst into Nas' former manager,
Steve Stoute's office and attacked him. Stoute sued Combs in June 1999,
resulting in Combs paying him an out-of-court settlement of $500,000.
Originally charged with assault for the event, Combs pleaded guilty on
September 8, 1999, to a charge of harassment, and was sentenced to spend one
day in an anger management class.
On December 27, 1999, Combs, his then-girlfriend Jennifer
Lopez, and his protégé rapper Shyne were at Club New York in Times Square in
Manhattan when gunfire occurred. A prosecutor said that the incident was
sparked by an argument at the club between Combs and another patron. After a
police investigation, Combs and Shyne were arrested for weapons violations and
other charges. Combs was charged with four weapons-related crimes and with
bribing his driver, Wardel Fenderson, to claim ownership of his gun. With a gag
order in place, the highly publicized trial began. Combs's attorneys were
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. and Benjamin Brafman. Combs was found not guilty on all
charges. Shyne was convicted on five of his eight charges and sentenced to ten
years in prison. Combs and Lopez broke up shortly after. A lawsuit filed by
Fenderson, who said he suffered emotional damage after the shooting, was
settled in February 2004. Lawyers for both sides, having agreed to keep the
settlement terms secret, said the matter had been "resolved to the satisfaction of all parties".
In 2001, Combs was arrested for driving with a suspended license
in Florida.
In 2003, the National Labor Committee revealed that
factories producing the Sean John clothing brand in Honduras were violating
Honduran labor laws. Accusations were that workers were subjected to body
searches and involuntary pregnancy tests, bathrooms were locked and access
tightly controlled, and employees were forced to work overtime and received
sweatshop wages. Charles Kernaghan of the National Labor Committee told The New
York Times that, "Sean Puff Daddy
obviously has a lot of clout, and he can literally do a lot overnight to help
these workers." Combs responded with an extensive investigation,
telling reporters, "I'm as pro-worker
as they get." In February 2004, Kernaghan announced that improvements
had been implemented at the factory, including adding air conditioning and
water purification systems, firing the most abusive supervisors, and allowing
the formation of a labor union.
Also in 2003, Kirk Burrowes sued Combs, claiming that Combs
had forced him to give up his shares in Bad Boy Records through threats of
violence. In 2006, the case was dismissed because the statute of limitations
had expired.
In 2005, an assault charge against Combs filed by Michigan
television host Rogelio Mills was resolved in Combs's favor.
Later in 2005, London-based musical artist and DJ Richard
Dearlove, who had been performing under the name "Diddy" since 1992—nine years before Combs started using
even "P. Diddy"—sought an
injunction in the High Court of Justice in London. He accepted an out-of-court
settlement of £10,000 in damages and more than £100,000 in costs. Combs can no
longer use the name Diddy in the UK, where he is still known as P. Diddy.
In 2007, Gerard Rechnitzer sued Combs for battery, claiming
Combs had punched him outside a Hollywood nightclub. Rechnitzer claimed he was
attacked after he approached Combs while the rap mogul was talking to his
girlfriend. Combs settled the lawsuit on undisclosed terms in March 2008.
In 2009, the Los Angeles Times claimed that the Notorious
B.I.G. and Combs orchestrated the 1994 robbery and shooting of Tupac,
substantiating the claim with supposed FBI documents. The newspaper later
retracted the story, acknowledging that the documents had been fabricated. In
2012, Dexter Isaac, an associate of record management executive Jimmy Henchman,
confessed that he had shot Tupac on Henchman's orders.
In 2015, Combs was arrested for aggravated assault after an
altercation with his son's football coach at the University of California, Los
Angeles. On July 2, 2015, the assault charges were dropped due to lack of
evidence.
In 2021, Combs filed a $60 million lawsuit against the new
owners of Sean John, claiming the firm used his likeness without his permission
and fabricated quotes endorsing their new product line. In 2023, Combs filed a
racial discrimination lawsuit against Diageo, claiming that the spirits company
deliberately "knee-capped"
the marketing and sales of his Cîroc vodka and DeLéon tequila labels. In
January 2024, Combs voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit with prejudice, and also
severed the business relationship.
On March 4, 2024, music producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who was already suing Combs for sexual
assault, filed a lawsuit against Combs and his son Justin, alleging that they
engaged in a "massive"
cover-up of their involvement in the shooting of a 30-year-old man at a "writers and producers camp"
that was held at Combs's Chalice Recording Studio in Los Angeles in September
2022.
On March 25, 2024, former Syracuse University basketball
player and Combs associate Brendan Paul was arrested at the Opa Locka Airport
in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on two charges of cocaine and controlled substance
possession; he was released the next day after posting a $2,500 bond. Lil Rod
has accused Paul of being Combs's "drug
mule" in court documents.
Sexual misconduct
allegations, lawsuits, and arrest
In May 2017, Cindy Rueda, who previously had served as
Combs's personal chef, filed a lawsuit against Combs in the Los Angeles County
Superior Court, claiming, among other things, sexual harassment and retaliation.
The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in February 2019.
Cassie Ventura, with whom Combs had a long-term
relationship, filed a lawsuit against him on November 16, 2023, accusing him of
rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse. The lawsuit also suggested that
Combs was responsible for blowing up Ventura's then-boyfriend Kid Cudi's car.
Combs and Ventura reached an undisclosed settlement the following day, and the
lawsuit was dismissed.
Two further lawsuits were filed against Combs by two
additional complainants, alleging sexual assault and revenge porn, on November
23, 2023. One of the lawsuits claimed that in 1990 or 1991, Combs and Aaron
Hall had sexually abused a woman, with Combs recording the incident.
On May 17, 2024, CNN released surveillance footage of Combs
physically assaulting Ventura at the InterContinental hotel in Century City,
Los Angeles, on March 5, 2016. This incident was among the allegations made in
the lawsuit. On May 19, 2024, Combs issued a video apology on Instagram and
Facebook, stating he was "truly
sorry" and that his actions were "inexcusable".
Combs's assault of Ventura was stopped by hotel staff, after which Combs
allegedly tried to bribe the staff, according to a federal indictment in September
2024.
On October 1, 2024, the Washington Post reported that a team
of lawyers will be filing as many as 120 more lawsuits, covering assaults that
took place during the 2000s and 2010s. Plaintiffs, 25 of whom are minors, are
both male and female. Tony Buzbee, one of the attorneys on the team, said most
of the alleged assaults took place in New York State. Half of the alleged
victims say they reported the assault to police, to a doctor, or to the FBI.
Some claim to have been drugged or offered hush money. Additional potential
defendants other than Combs are also to be named in the lawsuits: "The names that we're going to name,
assuming our investigators confirm and corroborate what we've been told, are
names that will shock you", Buzbee commented at a press conference in
Houston. "I'm talking here about not
just the cowardly but complicit bystanders, which are those people that we know
watched this behavior occur and did nothing. I'm talking about the people that
participated, encouraged it, and egged it on. They know who they are." Buzbee
filed the first six of these lawsuits in New York federal court on October 13,
2024. Andrew Van Arsdale of the AVA Law Group, which is working with Buzbee,
said they have heard abuse allegations against Combs from some three thousand
people, and their team is currently actively examining another hundred
potential cases. Erica Wolff, a member of Combs's legal team, told the BBC that
Combs "looks forward to proving his
innocence and vindicating himself in court, where the truth will be established
based on evidence, not speculation".
Combs was arrested and indicted in the Southern District of
New York in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by
force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He is awaiting trial in
federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. During a
court appearance on October 10, 2024, Judge Arun Subramanian set Combs' trial
start date as May 5, 2025. On November 27, 2024, a judge denied bail for a
third time.
Discography
No Way Out (1997)
Forever (1999)
The Saga Continues... (2001)
Press Play (2006)
Last Train to Paris with Dirty Money (2010)
The Love Album: Off the Grid (2023)
Filmography
Film
2001 Made Ruiz
Monster's Ball Lawrence
Musgrove
2003 Death of a
Dynasty Himself
2005 Carlito's
Way: Rise to Power Hollywood Nicky Video
2008 A Raisin in
the Sun Walter Lee Younger TV movie
2010 Get Him to
the Greek Sergio
I'm Still Here Himself
2014 Muppets Most
Wanted Himself
Draft Day Chris
Crawford
2017 Girls Trip Himself
Television
1992 In Living
Color Himself Episode: "Episode
#3.27"
1997 The Steve
Harvey Show Himself Episode: "I
Do, I Don't"
1997–01 Showtime
at the Apollo Himself Recurring Guest
1999 Videotech Himself Episode: "Episode
#1.136"
The Priory Himself Episode: "Episode
#1.3"
1999–01 Behind
the Music Himself Recurring Guest
2000 Top of the
Pops Himself Episode: "Episode
#37.11"
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Himself/Contestant Episode:
"Episode #1.172" & "#1.174"
2001 Say It Loud:
A Celebration of Black Music in America Himself Episode: "Express
Yourself"
Jackass Himself Episode: "Beard
of Leeches"
Journeys in Black Himself Episode: "Johnnie
Cochran"
2002 All That Himself Episode:
"P. Diddy"
Anatomy of a Scene Himself Episode: "Monster's
Ball"
The Nick Cannon Show Himself Episode: "Nick
Takes Over Style"
MTV Europe Music Awards Himself/Host Main Host
Top Ten Himself Episode: "Camp
Pop"
2004 The Ashlee
Simpson Show Himself Episode: "Ashlee
Goes Platinum"
Style Star Himself Episode: "Sean
'P. Diddy' Combs"
2005 MTV Video
Music Awards Himself/Host Main Host
2006 Diary Himself Episode:
"Diddy"
E! True Hollywood Story Himself Episode: "Sean
'Diddy' Combs"
Access Granted Himself Episode: "We
Fly High Remix"
2009 CSI: Miami Derek Powell Episode: "Presumed
Guilty" & "Sink or
Swim"
2010 Entourage Himself Episode: "Tequila and
Coke"
2011 Hawaii
Five-0 Reggie Cole Episode: "Hoʻopaʻi"
2012 It's Always
Sunny in Philadelphia Dr.
Jinx Episode: "Charlie's Mom Has Cancer"
2015 Black-ish Elroy Savoy Episode: "Pops'
Pops' Pops"
2016 Stevie J
& Joseline: Go Hollywood Himself Episode: "L.A.,
The Stevie J Way"
Finding Your Roots Himself Episode: "Family
Reunions"
The Voice Himself/Advisor Recurring Advisor: Season 10
Inside the Label Himself Episode: "Uptown
Records, Part I & II"
2017 The Defiant Ones Himself Main Guest
2018 The Four:
Battle for Stardom Himself/Judge Main Judge
2022 Hip-Hop
Evolution Himself Guest Cast: Season 2–3
Billboard Music Awards Himself/Host Main Host
Documentary
1995 The Show
1998 Where It's
At: The Rolling Stone State of the Union
2002 Street
Dreams
2004 Fade to
Black
2005 Seamless
2016 The Art of
Organized Noize
2017 Clive Davis:
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
House of Z
Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story
The Defiant Ones
2019 The Black
Godfather
2021 Mary J.
Blige's My Life
2023 For Khadija
Tours
No Way Out Tour (1997–1998)
Forever Tour (2000)
The Heavyweights of Hip-Hop (with Snoop Dogg) (2007)
Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour (2016)
Awards and
nominations
Combs is listed as having a Guinness World Record for "Most Successful Rap Producer"
in 1997, as he was producer of singles that charted for 36 consecutive weeks in
1997. In 2021, Combs was among the inaugural inductees into the Black Music and
Entertainment Walk of Fame. In June 2022, Combs received the BET Lifetime
Achievement Award. In September 2023, Combs was awarded the key to New York City
by Mayor Eric Adams.
He received an MTV VMA Global Icon Award in 2023.
Awards and
nominations received by Sean Combs
BET Awards 2002 "Bad
Boy for Life"
(featuring Black Rob & Mark Curry) Video of the Year Nominated
"Pass the
Courvoisier, Part II"
(with Busta Rhymes & Pharrell Williams) Won
2003 "Bump, Bump, Bump" (with B2K) Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award Won
2007[233] "Last Night" (featuring
Keyshia Cole) Best Collaboration Nominated
Diddy Best Male
Hip-Hop Artist Nominated
2010 Diddy –
Dirty Money Best Group Nominated
2011 Won
2012 Nominated
2016 Puff Daddy
and the Family Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards 2008 "Roc
Boys (And the Winner Is)..." Track
of the Year Nominated
Sean Combs Hustler
of the Year Won
2009 Nominated
2010 "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" Reese's Perfect Combo Award Nominated
"Hello Good
Morning (Remix)" Nominated
Best Club Banger Nominated
Sean Combs Hustler
of the Year Won
2011 Nominated
2012 "Same Damn Time (Remix)" Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse Nominated
2013 Nominated
Sean Combs Hustler
of the Year Nominated
2017 Nominated
Grammy Awards 1998 Puff Daddy Best New Artist Nominated
No Way Out Best
Rap Album Won
Life After Death (as producer) Nominated
"Honey"
(as songwriter) Best Rhythm
& Blues Song Nominated
"I'll Be Missing
You" (featuring Faith Evans & 112) Best
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Won
"Mo Money Mo
Problems" (with the Notorious B.I.G. & Mase) Nominated
"Can't Nobody
Hold Me Down" (featuring Mase) Nominated
2000 "Satisfy You" (featuring R.
Kelly) Nominated
2002 "Bad Boy for Life" (with Black
Rob & Mark Curry) Nominated
2003 "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II"
(with Busta Rhymes & Pharrell) Nominated
2004 "Shake Ya Tailfeather" (with
Nelly & Murphy Lee) Won
2016 "All Day" (as songwriter) Best Rap Song Nominated
2024 The Love
Album: Off the Grid Best Progressive
R&B Album Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards 1997 "I'll
Be Missing You" MTV Select Nominated
Best Song Nominated
Sean Combs Best
New Act Nominated
Best Hip-Hop Nominated
1998 Best Male Nominated
Best Hip-Hop Nominated
1999 Nominated
2001 Nominated
2002 Nominated
2006 Nominated
2011 Diddy –
Dirty Money Best World Stage
Performance Nominated
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2018 Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story Best Music Documentary Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards 1997 "I'll
Be Missing You" Best
R&B Video Won
Viewer's Choice Nominated
1998 "It's All About the Benjamins"
(Rock Remix) Video of the Year Nominated
Viewer's Choice Won
"Come with
Me" (from Godzilla) Best
Video from a Film Nominated
2002 "Bad Boy for Life" Best Rap Video Nominated
NAACP Image Awards 2009 A Raisin in the Sun Outstanding Actor in a Television
Movie,
Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Won
2011 Diddy –
Dirty Money Outstanding Duo or Group Nominated
Rolling Stone's 500
Greatest Albums of All Time
134[242] The
Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die 1994
281[243] Mary
J. Blige My Life 1994
476[244] The
Notorious B.I.G. Life after Death 1997
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