Danity Kane's D. Woods fears Diddy's 'retaliation' as his trial nears end

USA Today

02-07-2025

D. Woods "can't wait" to put her negative experiences with Sean "Diddy" Combs, the man responsible for launching her career as part of Danity Kane, in the rearview mirror.
The 41-year-old singer, born Wanita Denise Woodgett, opened up to The Cut in an interview published July 1 about how she is "using my art to process my experience" through a one-woman show, "My Living Room Self."
"I can't wait until I am on the other side of all this. Maybe this is what I need to do to write a new experience. I just don't want to be in fear of his retaliation," Woods said. "We're talking in this hotel instead of my home because I don't know what he's capable of."
She added that she hasn't been following Combs' trial, which is in jury deliberations as of June 30, because "I don't want to be disappointed." Woods also noted that "I'm not sure a guilty verdict will heal me.
"That will happen when I sit down to talk about a project I'm doing, and there isn't a question about Puff," she added.
'Really stomach-turning': Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods chat about Diddy trial
D. Woods 'wasn't surprised' by Dawn Richard, Cassie's lawsuits against Diddy
Though Woods came forward to accuse Combs of verbal abuse in the Investigation Discovery docuseries "The Fall of Diddy," she hasn't filed a lawsuit.
Her former girl group colleague Dawn Richard is the only one to have sued Combs, alleging sexual assault, trafficking and labor violations, among other claims. Richard also testified against Combs in May, as his trial was underway.
"I was surprised she spoke out, but I wasn't surprised to hear the allegations," Woods said of Richard's lawsuit. She also went on to comment on Cassie Ventura Fine's bombshell 2023 lawsuit that kicked off the criminal investigation into Combs' alleged criminal enterprise.
"Even with Cassie, I wasn't surprised. I believe he's capable of that," she said. "I've seen how he's intimidated a room. I've seen him throw chairs at people."
Woods added, "When that news came out about Cassie's lawsuit, I was like, 'I've been trying to tell y'all, but you didn't want to believe me.' Now, maybe my experience can be accepted."
D. Woods contemplated suicide after Diddy fired her from Danity Kane
Woods' alleged experiences with Combs during MTV's "Making the Band" included the mogul body-shaming her and screaming threats over the phone after her bandmates turned down a performance. She tearfully told The Cut about feeling suicidal and struggling to make music after Combs fired her and Aubrey O'Day in 2008, in what she's previously described as an act of retaliation.
"By 2012, I was suicidal. By 2017, I had planned it out," Woods said. "I still have some of my suicide notes. I want to remember exactly what I was thinking and feeling. One of my letters was something like, 'It seems no matter what I give, nobody's interested. They just want Danity Kane or they've written me off. I'm a has-been. I'm a one-hit wonder.'"
Speaking about her career in more current terms, Woods said, "I've done so much more since Danity Kane that should be celebrated and recognized. I was recently on tour with Teddy Riley, and people say, 'You're just a backup dancer now.'
"I was having the time of my life. But in some people's mind, Danity Kane is the best thing that I'm ever going to do."
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 988, or start an online chat with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides free and confidential services 24/7.