From music mogul to scandal

For more than two decades, Sean “Diddy” Combs has been one of the most influential and respected figures in the music industry, becoming a true icon of global pop culture. Her famous parties, attended by celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez, represented the height of glamor and power in the entertainment world. Attending one of their exclusive events was synonymous with success and belonging to the show’s elite. Yet beneath the glow of fame and success shown to the world, Combs was weaving a web of secrets and impulses, culminating in Diddy’s arrest and a long series of indictments that have rocked the music industry. music: sex trafficking, violence and abuse perpetuated within a veritable empire fueled by power and fame. The Rise of the Entertainment Mogul Born in Harlem in 1969, Sean Combs, also known as Puff Daddy or P. Diddy, built his fortune from scratch. After founding Bad Boy Records in 1993, he quickly rose to the top of success producing legendary artists such as The Notorious BIG, Usher and Mary J. Blige. His record label was one of the most influential of the ’90s, providing the backdrop for the tumultuous and competitive hip-hop scene of the time. But music wasn’t the only field where Diddy excelled. In 1998, he launched the Sean John clothing line, which soon became a cultural phenomenon. Combs’ entrepreneurship further expanded with the launch of fragrances, luxury spirits, and later with the founding of a media company, which also revolutionized the world of television with several reality shows that discover new musical talents. Her famous parties, especially the famous “White Party,” an exclusive event held annually in the Hamptons with a strict all-white dress code, became synonymous with status. These festivals attracted the elite of the music and film industry, mixing established artists with young emerging talent. At least that’s what was thought until a few months ago, but the allegations against Diddy have quickly cast a shadow over those same parties, lending credence to scenarios where those gatherings of the rich and famous were the backdrop for a series of extreme sexual behaviors. An environment of terror and control Rob Shuter, Combs’ former press agent, described the environment around the rapper as a kind of extravagant reality where power and control were the only real drivers, and he (Diddy) was in center of the vortex. “Diddy was obsessed with power. It was like being part of a circus: the rapper was the ‘master of the floor,'” Shuter said in an interview with the BBC, noting how the rapper was constantly surrounded by armed bodyguards and he maintained strict control over everything and everyone around him. Shuter, who worked for Diddy from 2002 to 2004, claimed that he never personally witnessed episodes of sexual violence, but perceived the strong imbalance of power that characterized the environment of the rapper. “It was like living in a parallel world,” he added, describing the manic security measures surrounding Diddy, from firearms strewn around his home to metal detectors installed in his New York apartment . According to Shuter, the power Combs wielded over the industry was such that many were afraid to speak out. Some victims claimed that they were threatened with destroying their careers if they did not comply with their wishes. Singer Cassie, for example, recounted being threatened by her record label that her single would never be released if she didn’t answer Combs’ calls. The Dark Side of Success Diddy’s world began to crumble in November 2023, when singer Cassie Ventura, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship for nearly a decade, filed a lawsuit against him. Cassie accused Diddy of coercive control, physical, psychological and sexual abuse during their relationship. According to legal documents, the music mogul allegedly forced her to use drugs and participate in orgies and other degrading acts. This case triggered a cascade of new accusations by other alleged victims. So far, more than a dozen civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs, with charges ranging from sex trafficking to sexual assault and extortion. Among these cases, some include the famous “White Party”, where alcohol was allegedly mixed with drugs to make the participants more “vulnerable” and coercive. Adria English, a former adult film star, claimed to have been “sex-trafficked” just during these events. The “Freak-Off” parties and the alleged network of abuse Among the most serious accusations are those related to the so-called “Freak-Offs”, real sex parties organized by Combs and his entourage in hotel rooms or private properties . According to federal charges, Diddy allegedly reserved entire hotel floors to host these parties, which involved prostitutes, hard drugs and acts of violence. It is alleged that many victims were coerced with threats and drugs to participate in these acts, while the whole process was often filmed. Federal investigations, still ongoing, are trying to uncover an alleged sex-trafficking ring that would have operated under the direct control of Combs and his closest associates. During the search of his villas in Los Angeles and Miami, authorities seized firearms, large quantities of drugs, lubricants and other equipment related to the alleged illicit activities, including a large quantity of bottles of massage oil