KANYE West appears to have hinted at Diddy’s crimes with cryptic lyrics before his sex trafficking arrest as texts between the rappers have resurfaced.
Federal prosecutors released the indictment announcing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 54, was charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution after his arrest.
Musician Kanye, 47, put Diddy, formerly known as Puff Daddy, in the same category as emblattled stars R. Kelly and Bill Cosby on Carnival, a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign.
Released just seven months ago, he rapped: “Now I’m Ye-Kelly, b***h, now, I’m Bill Cosby, b***h. Now, I’m Puff Daddy rich that’s ‘Me Too’ me rich.”
In 2022, R. Kelly was sentenced to over 30 years in prison after being convicted of a slew of crimes including sex trafficking, child pornography and kidnapping.
And Bill, once beloved as America’s Dad, was convicted of sexual assault back in 2018.
He had his sex assault conviction overturned in 2021 after serving two years of a three to 10-year sentence.
RESURFACED TEXTS
Kanye doesn’t appear to have had a smooth relationship with Diddy over the years.
Just days ago, an Instagram account reminded Kanye fans about his heated text exchange with the Bad Boy Records founder two years ago.
In screenshots originally posted by Kanye on social media, which Diddy never confirmed the validity of, the pair were engaged in a back-and-forth about the Chicago-native wearing a controversial “White Lives Matter” T-shirt.
The conversation, which quickly escalated, revealed the tension between the two music moguls.
The exchange began with Diddy reaching out, offering to meet face-to-face, seemingly in an attempt to resolve their differences in person.
‘Justice is coming for Diddy just like R Kelly,’ victim’s lawyer says as rapper is arrested amid sex trafficking probe
He said, “As soon as I land we’ll meet face to face!!! Send me a address.”
Kanye’s response, however, was far from amicable.
He replied, “F***K YOU,” making his frustration clear from the outset.
He then continued saying, “I didn’t like our convo. I’m selling these tees. Nobody gets in between me and my money.”
Kanye went on to make a peculiar reference to his grandfather, adding, “This is my grandfather texting you now. Never call me with no bt like that again unless you ready to-green light me.
“Cause anybody who got on that tee is me. Out of respect for everything you’ve meant to me l’ll be quiet as Virgil. But now I know how I’ve hurt peopie I love with threats. Come do something illegal to me noooow pleeeeeeeeease.”
Diddy responded, “I’m just trying to talk to you as a black man. And I’m talking to you because this is hurting our people. Stop.”
But Kanye remained unyielding. He said, “Anything you text I will post. I love you. And you guys are breaking my heart. I accept your apology in advance.”
In a final, intense exchange, Diddy reiterated his desire to handle the matter directly.
He said, “Let’s stop playing these internet games. And don’t feel threatened. You’ll be fine. Just love.”
Kanye’s parting words took a turn, referencing a perceived external influence on Diddy.
The Power hitmaker, a divisive figure in the Jewish community for his anti-Semitic rants, added, “This ain’t a game. Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.
He concluded, “I told you this was war. Now gone get you some business.”
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DIDDY
It comes as the eleventh person to accuse Combs of sexual assault came forward on Tuesday.
Thalia Graves filed a bombshell lawsuit claiming Combs and his head of security, Joseph Sherman, raped her at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City in 2001.
In her suit, Graves alleges that Combs lured her into a meeting with himself and Sherman where they gave her a drink “likely laced with a drug that eventually caused her briefly to lose consciousness,” according to documents obtained by TMZ.
She claimed that she woke up to find herself tied up and restrained, with Combs and Sherman allegedly raping her.
Graves, who was 25 at the time and dating one of Combs’ employees, said she had experienced suicidal thoughts and needed therapy after the shocking alleged attack.
The suit adds that Graves didn’t report what happened at the time because she feared Combs and Sherman would use their power to ruin her life if she spoke out.
Graves said that she still lives in fear of Combs and that she has been forced to relive the trauma after learning in November last year that her “horrific rape” had been filmed.
She accused Combs and Sherman of sharing her video to try and humiliate her and her boyfriend and that the thought of the footage being out caused her to consider taking her own life again.
The video was allegedly made available for sale, the suit states.
Graves is suing Combs, Sherman, and Bad Boy Records for damages and says she experiences anxiety, panic attacks, and severe depression to this day.
Her attorney, Gloria Allred, is holding a press conference alongside Graves.
A visibly emotional Graves said that the “internal pain after being sexually assaulted has been incredibly hard to put into words.”
She went on: “Some of the hardest parts of this pain are the shame and the guilt I now experience that plays a negative part in my day-to-day ability to function properly.”
Graves added that she was “going through a divorce at the time of the assault” and was “faced with disbelief and judgment” when she came forward.
Asked where the alleged video of the assault is now, Gloria Allred said: “The complaint alleges that it was taken without her knowledge and consent that she wouldn’t have consented it was then published and viewed by others and they still be out there, being viewed.”
Allred added that her client would “never have consented” to either the filming of the video or being “victimized” in the way she alleges she was by Combs and Sherman.
She said she was representing other alleged victims of Combs, and she called on any witnesses who knew of the existence of any copies of the alleged video to come forward confidentially.
It comes as…
Sherman responded to Graves’ lawsuit and vehemently denied the accusations, saying he was not working for Combs at the time the alleged rape took place.
“These claims are completely untrue, and Mr. Sherman is committed to clearing his name and protecting his reputation,” a statement shared by Sherman on Instagram on Wednesday read.
“At the time of the alleged incident, Mr. Sherman was not employed by Mr. Combs and has never had any interaction with the accuser.
“Throughout his career, Mr. Sherman has upheld a reputation of professionalism and integrity, and he refuses to be associated with this fabricated story or this clear attempt at a money grab.”
Sherman called the accusations “false and a damage to his character.”
“I have never met the accuser, and I was not working with Sean Combs during the time in question,” Sherman said in the statement.
“I will be pursuing legal action to address this defamation and protect my name.”
Sherman’s attorney called the suit a “clear attempt to exploit the current situation involving Mr. Combs.”
The U.S. Sun has approached representatives for Combs for comment.
Diddy’s downfall
By The U.S. Sun’s Senior Reporter Forrest McFarland, who has been reporting on Diddy’s legal battles for years
BEFORE Sean “Diddy” Combs’ arrest on Monday night, it had been highly speculated that the rap star would find himself in custody after he was repeatedly hit with disturbing accusations – and had two of his mansions raided by the feds.
His mounting legal troubles finally came to a head on September 17, when he was charged with three federal counts, including sex trafficking, for allegedly forcing victims to take part in drug-fueled sex parties he called “Freak Offs.”
Hours before his arrest, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed the feds investigating Combs were secretly liaising with Tupac Shakur murder prosecutors on gangland activities.
The development also came after Combs was named 77 times in documents submitted by prosecutors in the Tupac murder case.
Aside from the Tupac probe, Combs was already facing a slew of lawsuits, including one he settled with his ex, Cassie Ventura, after she accused him of rape and abuse.
Disturbing hotel surveillance video from 2016 showed Combs chasing Cassie down and then punching, kicking, and beating her in a hallway.
Two months earlier, in March 2024, two of Combs’ mansions were raided by federal investigators, who seized three AR-15s, drugs, and 1,000 bottles of lube which were part of his “Freak Off” supplies.
In addition to his federal criminal charges, Combs also faces a handful of lawsuits with allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and sex trafficking dating back to the early 1990s.
Music producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones filed one suit in February 2024, claiming Combs forced him to hire sex workers and participate in sex acts while he worked on his latest album.
Combs has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the federal sex trafficking charges against him, but his battle is far from over.
He faces life in prison if he’s convicted on all counts.
BEHIND BARS
The rapper and producer behind many major hits in the 1990s and 2000s, remains in custody in New York.
He is accused of running an empire of sex trafficking dating back to at least 2008.
To date, more than a dozen people have filed lawsuits against Combs, accusing him of sexual assault.
Last November, Combs was accused by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura of subjecting her to years of abuse, beatings and rape.
Combs settled the case less than 24 hours later, but this May, footage was released showing Combs attacking Cassie at a hotel, viciously beating her and throwing her against a wall.
In December last year, a woman accused Combs of gang-raping her when she was just 17 at his Big Apple recording studio after flying her to New York and giving her drugs and alcohol.
The woman, who filed suit anonymously as Jane Doe, accused Combs, Bad Boy Records president Harve Pierre, and a third, unidentified person, of raping her in 2003.
In February this year, a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs sexually assaulted him and forced him to have sex with prostitutes.
The following month, Homeland Security agents raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex-trafficking investigation.
Federal agents found guns, hidden cameras, and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil in the raids, it was later reported.
Last week, Combs was arrested at a Manhattan hotel and charged with prostitution, racketeering, and sex trafficking.
A 14-page unsealed indictment alleges he created “a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in… sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
Prosecutors allege Combs took part in “freak off” parties at his properties, where women were hooked up to IV drips following marathon sex sessions.
Combs has denied all the allegations against him.
He is being held without bail in prison and, if found guilty, faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars.
Joseph Sherman, Diddy’s former bodyguard, full response to latest lawsuit
Statement from Joseph Sherman’s legal team:
“Joseph Sherman, a respected figure in the entertainment industry and former celebrity bodyguard, vehemently denies the false and baseless accusations made against him in connection with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and an alleged incident in 2001.
“These claims are completely untrue, and Mr. Sherman is committed to clearing his name and protecting his reputation. At the time of the alleged incident, Mr. Sherman was not employed by Mr. Combs and has never had any interaction with the accuser.
“Throughout his career, Mr. Sherman has upheld a reputation of professionalism and integrity, and he refuses to be associated with this fabricated story or this clear attempt at a money grab.”
Sherman’s comments on the lawsuit he’s named in, “These accusations are not only false but damaging to my character. I have never met the accuser, and I was not working with Sean Combs during the time in question. I will be pursuing legal action to address this defamation and protect my name.”
Statement from Sherman’s attorney, “We stand by Mr. Sherman’s innocence and are taking swift legal action to address this fraudulent claim. This false accusation is clearly an attempt to exploit the current situation involving Mr. Combs.
“We are pursuing a defamation lawsuit against all parties involved in these allegations and will ensure that Mr. Sherman’s rights are fully protected under the law.”
