"I have so much money I could pay someone to kill you and nobody would know. Nobody would remember you. Nobody would know anything." Former music producer Daniel Evans says he has not forgotten the words his former boss, Sean "Diddy" Combs - then known as Puff Daddy - said to a colleague. It was 1997, he tells the BBC, and the incident took place at the musician's record company's offices in New York.
Once one of the most powerful figures in hip-hop, Diddy now faces charges that threaten to erase his legacy. The former music mogul is currently in prison, awaiting trial on sex trafficking and extortion charges, along with a number of lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, drugging women and violent behavior. While he denies all charges, his former colleagues at Bad Boy Records are now speaking out for the first time about the disturbing incidents they witnessed in the 1990s and beyond.
Evans and other former employees describe him as a man who was consumed by power, especially after he received a $6 million payout for his company's success.
Combs' meteoric rise began in the early 1990s when he founded Bad Boy Records after being fired from Uptown Records. The label quickly became a powerhouse with artists like The Notorious BIG, but behind the scenes, employees say a toxic culture was taking hold, A2 CNN reports. Former staff members describe an environment where sexual misconduct, drug use and abuse of power were commonplace. Some recall accidentally entering rooms where Combs would have sex, while others say corporate funds were used to bring women from various countries for sexual encounters with artists and executives.
Felicia Newsome, who managed the recording studio Daddy's House from 1994 to 2000, recalls an incident in which Combs asked a staff member to bring him condoms while he was alone with two women. Although she objected to the inappropriate request, other employees say they were afraid to speak up. Many of the company's employees were young, and interns — some as young as 14 — were often involved in inappropriate situations.
As the 2000s progressed, Combs' behavior reportedly became increasingly profligate and uncontrolled. Employees describe a culture of "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll" at "Daddy's House," where women would regularly party. Several of these venues have since been named in lawsuits alleging rape and drugging, the BBC reports. One woman, Crystal McKinney, alleges that Combs sexually assaulted her at the studio in 2003. Another lawsuit alleges that he and two associates raped a 17-year-old that same year. Combs' legal team has dismissed the allegations as false and continues to maintain his innocence.
Many of Combs' former associates still find it hard to come to terms with the allegations. Some, like Jeffrey Walker, say they never witnessed such behavior with their own eyes. Others, like Evans, were skeptical until a video surfaced in 2023 showing Combs physically assaulting his former partner, Casandra Ventura, in a hotel hallway. Ventura's lawsuit against Combs, which alleged years of abuse and sex trafficking, was settled within 24 hours.
As Combs prepares to face trial in May, stories from his former employees are raising serious questions about his past. Once known for his relentless ambition and ability to manage his public image, Combs has changed his stage name several times — from Puff Daddy to P Diddy and, most recently, “Love.” However, with the allegations continuing to pile up, many who once adored him now wonder if his power simply gave him the freedom to show who he really was all along.
(A2 Televizion)
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