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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘You can't unsee it': ‘The Fall of Diddy' directors on Cassie's allegations and a mogul's decline
In 2023, the world of music and pop culture was rocked as allegations against Sean "Diddy" Combs began to emerge, shaking the foundation of the mogul's decades-long career. The details of Combs' unraveling were chronicled virtually in real time by Investigative Discovery's documentary The Fall of Diddy, directed by Emma Schwartz and Yoruba Richen. 'We had been talking to some folks more broadly about the 'Diddyverse space,' about similar kinds of allegations and things that were happening in the industry,' Schwartz tells Gold Derby. While the directors were unsure of how the narrative might evolve, everything changed when Casandra Ventura (known as the singer Cassie), Diddy's former girlfriend, filed her lawsuit around Thanksgiving 2023. More from GoldDerby 'Sentimental Value' hailed as a 'masterpiece,' the 'best movie' at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival 'The Daily Show' editor Cathy Trasborg on letting Trump supporters 'reveal themselves' in the edit: 'We just let them play out' 'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' That moment became a catalyst. As Schwartz recalls, 'We knew there was a lot more bubbling beneath the surface of that. We also began to hear that more people were starting to come forward as a result of Cassie sharing her story. When someone that well-known came out with such incredibly specific details in that lawsuit about what she says she went through, they felt, 'OK, maybe now I need to speak as well.'' The team began digging into the story well before the high-profile events that would dominate headlines — the federal raid, the viral hotel video, and Diddy's arrest. Richen describes their approach as a dual exploration: 'It was, I think, a very unique kind of process, because on the one hand, we were looking back into so much of the past, at the same time, there was much of that past coming to light and unfolding in the present.' One of the pivotal moments in shifting public perception came with the now-infamous hotel video tied to Cassie's allegations, something Richen describes as 'horrific and shocking.' The video was a crucial turning point not just for audiences, but for the documentary as well. "You can't unsee it," she remarks. "People who we had been talking with over those months, it definitely propelled them to come forward with their stories because they were angry, they were saddened. They were horrified by seeing this." The cascade of revelations gained momentum after the video and Diddy's subsequent apology, as fear began to give way to accountability. Richen explained that those who spoke out felt "sort of safety in numbers" and wanted "to be a part of the accountability process." Yet, for the filmmakers, reaching those willing to share their stories was no straightforward task. "It was a number of ways," says Richen. 'Everything from the research that we were doing in terms of reading about what happened at [the City College of New York] and relatives that had spoken out — or people who had videotaped during that time. It was talking to people and people being like, 'You should talk to so-and-so.' Meeting with people, all the things, all the ways.' Schwartz adds that their collaboration with Rolling Stone further expanded their network: 'We were talking to people before everyone in the media was out there. I think that made a difference. We weren't coming in saying, 'Oh, he's just been arrested. Tell me what happened.' We were there earlier and building a longer story about how we got to this point as opposed to trying to understand why he is being charged.' Thalia Graves in The Fall of Diddy (Photo: Investigative Discovery) One of the documentary's most gut-wrenching moments comes with Thalia Graves' account of an alleged rape. Richen says that the crucial first step in conducting such interviews involves building trust long before sitting down with cameras. Schwartz elaborates, saying, 'When someone decides they want to come forward, if they're going to share a story, they're ready and they've been holding it in ... if someone has been through such a traumatic experience and wants to share it, then I think they're all in.' For Graves, Cassie's decision to speak out broke a long-held silence. 'She thought she was the only one until Cassie came forward,' says Schwartz. 'As it turns out, not only was she not the only one, she was one of many who came forward with all kinds of allegations.' Richen draws parallels between Thalia's courage and the experiences of Danyel Smith, the first female editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine, who recounts being threatened by Diddy but later appearing at events with him out of professional necessity. Richen explains, 'In order to get the scoop, to get the access, she felt she needed to still be around him. I think we see this in so many circumstances, where people who are in abusive relationships or have been threatened, if it's a person of power, the person that can give them access, that it's tied to their professional life, [they] will tolerate it to a certain extent.' Danyel Smith in The Fall of Diddy (Photo: Investigative Discovery) In the documentary, Schwartz and Richen also explore Diddy's undeniable talent and influence versus the harm he allegedly inflicted on those around him. Schwartz reflects on his ability to continually reinvent himself despite scandal. 'The thing about Sean Combs — Puff, Diddy, whatever name — he had a way of reinventing himself and has remarkable charm and charisma. I think one of the tensions that almost everybody we interviewed felt was that there was an incredible talent that they were attracted to about what he did… despite the souring that many experienced.' Richen adds that Diddy's innovation in blending hip hop and R&B was 'revolutionary,' particularly during an era when MTV had only recently begun playing Black music. While The Fall of Diddy culminates with Diddy's arrest, his legal battles are far from over, and the filmmakers wrestled with where to conclude the story. Richen explains, 'There's a budget … there's a deadline. We worked with our partners at ID. … We didn't know exactly when the arrest would happen, if it would happen in our time, so we were really just following this, and responding.' Schwartz adds, 'I think part of it was taking it as close to the point of understanding — how did we get to this moment? — rather than attempting to litigate what we're all going to be watching unfold over the coming weeks.' When asked if more chapters could be made, the directors remain open to revisiting the story's ongoing fallout. Still, Schwartz reflects, 'The fate of whether he will stay behind bars or find a way to resurrect and rename himself is really the question that we're all going to be watching.' The Fall of Diddy is currently streaming on Max. Best of GoldDerby 'Étoile' editor Tim Streeto on reuniting with the Palladinos for the Prime Video ballet series 'The Daily Show' editor Cathy Trasborg on letting Trump supporters 'reveal themselves' in the edit: 'We just let them play out' 'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' Click here to read the full article.
NBC News
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Drake Bell opens up to former co-star Josh Peck following ‘Quiet on Set' docuseries
Actor Drake Bell told his former Nickelodeon co-star Josh Peck that he worried about the fate of their friendship after he reported allegations of child abuse during their time on 'Drake & Josh.' The former child stars, who reunited for the first time in nearly 20 years for an episode of Peck's podcast, ' Good Guys,' reflected on the revelations made in last year's docuseries 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.' The Investigative Discovery series, which aired in March 2024, featured interviews with several actors and former child stars who alleged abuse, inappropriate behavior and a toxic work environment while appearing on some Nickelodeon shows. It was the first time Bell publicly addressed his accusations of child sexual abuse against Nick dialogue coach Brian Peck (no relation to Josh Peck), who was arrested in 2003 and charged with 'lewd acts with a child,' according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department. The release said Brian Peck had molested an unidentified minor he had worked with over a period of six months. After he pleaded no contest, Brian Peck was convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a 14- or 15-year-old child and oral copulation with a minor under 16, according to a case summary from Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Brian Peck was 'walking around set' during the filming of the show's pilot as the investigation was happening, Bell said in the podcast episode. 'Where I felt most comfortable, where I was the happiest, was when I was on set with you guys,' Bell told Josh Peck. 'And the worst part was, every day I got there, the monster was there.' Attempts to reach Brian Peck for comment were unsuccessful on Monday. At the time the 'Drake & Josh' pilot was being shot, Bell said he agonized about whether the situation would negatively impact the show's future. He was afraid the investigation would go public. 'When this drops, is Josh going to look at me and be like, 'Bro, you took our dream away?' … Like, are we going to lose our show?' Bell said as he recounted his stress. 'Dude, I was losing my hair, like I had these giant scabs on my head.' 'Drake & Josh," in which the two played stepbrothers and polar opposite s, ended in 2007. But Bell's identity in Brian Peck's case wasn't revealed until the the docuseries debuted in 2024. Josh Peck previously said that he had reached out to Bell privately in the days after 'Quiet on Set' was released. When they caught up on the podcast episode, Josh Peck recounted the moment he noticed Brian Peck had suddenly disappeared from set. He said he 'had a feeling something happened,' and recalled asking Bell one day whether he still spoke to Brian Peck, to which Bell had replied, 'No, Brian's a really bad guy.' But it wasn't until the docuseries came out that Josh Peck said he learned the full extent of what his co-star went through. 'In watching the documentary at 38, as a father, as a grown-up, so much was revealed to me of what you had to go through,' Josh Peck said. 'I can't even imagine that.' He later said working as a child actor during that time, 'there were so many things that you would see on set in a day and just go, 'I don't know if that'd be cool anywhere else but here.'' 'And so when you had tyrannical bosses or just people acting inappropriately,' he continued. 'I think the assumption was, in Hollywood, like this was just kind of part of it.'' A spokesperson for Nickelodeon previously issued a statement on the docuseries. 'Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct," the spokesperson said in March 2024. "Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.' Before 'Quiet on Set,' Bell had faced his own controversy. The actor was sentenced to two years of probation for child endangerment after he was accused of 'grooming' a female victim from when she was 12. He pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge for disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. Following the docuseries' release, Bell experienced a wave of support. But some of his fans lashed out at Bell's own accusers, who faced online harassment.
