Latest news with #TheNotoriousB.I.G
Fox News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Witness from LA hotel where Diddy attacked Cassie to testify at rapper's trial
incoming update… Sean 'Diddy' Combs' iconic costume from the movie, 'Monster's Ball,' is officially up for auction with GWS Auctions, 25 years after the movie was first released. The outfit includes a white Hanes crewneck T-shirt, a light gray hoodie with the sleeves cut off, a pair of jeans with one pant leg cut off, black shoes and white socks. Diddy wore the costume in the beginning of the film. In the 2001 romantic drama, Diddy portrayed Lawrence Musgrove, a man who is grappling with fatherhood and regret as he awaits his execution on death row. The disgraced rapper was praised for his performance in the movie, which came early in his acting career, and was a stark transition from his previous work in music videos. He wasn't the only star to receive praise for their performance. His co-star, Halle Berry , went on to win the Academy Award for best actress in 2002, becoming the first black actress to take home the best actress award in Oscar's history. According to the auction house, 'The costume will come with a production costumer's tag with various information about the costume and scenes.' The auction house claims they acquired the costume from Star Wares of Los Angeles and that the sale will include a Letter of Provenance. Following President Donald Trump's pardon of reality TV couple, Todd and Julie Chirsley last week, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked the president about his friendship with Sean 'Diddy' Combs and whether he would pardon the disgraced rapper if he's found guilty in his federal sex crimes trial. When asked the question, Trump said 'nobody's asked,' yet but that he 'know[s] people are thinking about it.' Trump also explained that he and Diddy were friendly in the past, but that their 'relationship busted up' when he entered the political sphere saying, 'I'd read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.' Their relationship status won't alter his decision making though. 'I would certainly look at the facts,' he said. 'If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact on me.' After hearing the president's comments, rapper 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, took to social media to tell the president that Diddy has voiced negative opinions about Trump. "I'm going to reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy," 50 Cent said, per Us Weekly. 50 Cent later shared a screenshot of an article with the headline, "50 Cent Plans to Nuke Diddy's Chances at a Pardon." "I didn't say nuke anything," the rapper wrote. "I simply said I will make sure Trump is aware." Jackson and Diddy have had a longstanding feud dating back to 2006 when 50 Cent released a Diddy diss track, claiming the rapper had knowledge about the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. 50 Cent called Diddy a liar when CNN obtained and released the now infamous Cassie Ventura assault video, saying, 'First, he denied that it even happened, and then the tape comes out – so that means everything that n---- says is a lie.' "When someone watches that, if they have a daughter and they can imagine her being under those circumstances, that s-- is crazy,' he told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. 'Like, they let him get away with it. With all the influence and power you have, the person you're with is supposed to want to be a part of your life, not be forced." Live Coverage begins here
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Diddy Employee Reveals The Notorious B.I.G.-Inspired Alias He Used To Book Hotels
'Freak-offs' have been a major focal point in the Diddy sex trafficking trial, especially the initial alleged details of what hotel rooms would be stocked with and look like afterward. His former employee recently testified about his experience booking lodging for the 55-year-old artist, and how the fake name he used was connected to The Notorious B.I.G. George Kaplan, Diddy's former assistant, told the jury on Wednesday (May 21) that he would often be told by Puff or Kristina Khorram, his chief of staff, to arrange stays for the controversial mogul on short notice. The former REVOLT chairman's preferred locations were allegedly in New York, Miami, or Los Angeles; namely, NY's Trump International Hotel & Tower or LA's The InterContinental, where he infamously assaulted Cassie in 2016. Diddy, like many celebrities, would use an alias given the alleged activity happening in the rooms and his general celebrity status. Kaplan revealed that his go-to fake name was 'Frank Black,' a play on the late Biggie's moniker 'Frank White.' The Bad Boy co-founder spent the years following Big's death constantly paying homage to him and divulging their relationship, so it is no surprise that he was top of mind in this regard. George Kaplan was also given specific instructions on setting up the hotel rooms; his testimony aligned with details of the lawsuits against Diddy. He would bring a bag with him full of 'clothes, a speaker, candles, liquor, baby oil and Astroglide,' and unpack it before the Press Play artist arrived. Kaplan revealed that he 'often' purchased these items with a corporate credit card, adding that he believed Diddy began to have him around more often when he gained more trust in him. Kaplan also revealed that he would pick up additional items for the mogul at his request, which included more clothing, food, and 'sometimes drugs.' The 'Last Night' artist apparently had a toiletries bag that was stocked with ketamine and Advil. Kaplan's account of what the rooms looked like when he went to clean them after Puff was finished was also accurate to the details of the lawsuits. He claimed that he would see empty bottles of Gatorade, alcohol, and baby oil. Prosecutors were interested in why Kaplan did the cleaning and not hotel staff, to which he replied, 'It was implied — protecting him and protecting his public image were really important.' Over the last few weeks, the jury has heard from Cassie regarding her experiences in the 'freak-offs,' sex workers, and now an assistant who helped put them together. One can only imagine what will be brought to light next. More from Clinical Psychologist Testifies During Diddy Trial, Speaks On Abuser-Victim Dynamic Meek Mill Reveals The "Craziest" Experience He's Had While At A Diddy Party Sex Worker Claims Diddy Dressed Like A Muslim Woman To Conceal Identity During "Freak-Off"
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rick Buckler, Drummer for The Jam, Dies at 69
Rick Buckler, a longtime rocker best known as the drummer for legendary band The Jam, has died. He was 69 years old. The news of his death was announced on X via a heartfelt message from his bandmate, Paul Weller. 'I'm shocked and saddened by Rick's passing. I'm thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey,' the band's vocalist Weller wrote alongside a series of black-and-white photos of Buckler. 'We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time. […] Rick was a good guy and a great drummer whose innovative drum patterns helped shape our songs. I'm glad we had the chance to work together as much as we did. My thoughts are with Leslie and his family at this very difficult time.' More from Billboard Donnie Wahlberg to Star in New Drama Series 'Boston Blue' Will Smith Says He Spoke to Prince & The Notorious B.I.G. Hours Before They Died LISA of BLACKPINK Launches Lalisa Comics Ahead of 'Alter Ego' Album While no cause of death has been revealed, the news comes two weeks after Buckler cancelled a spoken world tour due to ongoing health issues, per TMZ. The English rock band was formed in 1972 in Woking, Surrey. Buckler was in the original lineup as drummer, and the group released their debut single 'In the City' in 1977, and released their debut album of the same name that same year. The band made waves via their political statements, rising up against police brutality, the British government and beyond. Overall, the group released six albums, their final project being 1982's The Gift, which peaked at No. 82 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. After a world tour in support of the album, the group disbanded due to a decision from Weller. After his time in The Jam, Buckler formed Time UK with Jimmy Edwards and Ray Simone, and later formed a new The Jam tribute band called The Gift. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Studio sex' and 'hitman threats': Insiders speak out about Diddy's 90s music empire
"I have so much money now that I could hire someone to kill you, and nobody would know. No-one would miss you. No-one would know anything." Former music executive Daniel Evans says he can still remember the threat from his old boss, Sean "Diddy" Combs - then known as Puff Daddy - to a colleague. It was 1997, he says, in the New York office of Combs's Grammy Award-winning music label Bad Boy Records. "It was like, this is what money does to you," he says. Combs was often "prickly", but Evans says power was transforming him. Just days before, the hip-hop mogul had received his biggest reward to date – $6m (£4.8m) to mark the label's success, which boasted platinum-selling artists like The Notorious B.I.G. That year Combs's music career reached its peak, with his empire soon expanding into fashion, alcohol and even his own TV network. Nearly three decades on, his legacy is in ruins as he sits in jail awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering alongside battling dozens of lawsuits accusing him of drugging and assault at lavish parties, high-end hotels and in his label's recording studio. He denies all the allegations. Now the BBC has spoken to more than 20 people who worked with Combs at Bad Boy Records - including former executives, assistants and producers - who describe for the first time troubling incidents they say they witnessed during its 1990s rise. Some executives say they had concerns after seeing Combs having sex with women in the studio, including one incident where the employee says the young woman did not seem to react when he walked in. Another staff member complained Combs asked her to bring him condoms. The BBC also heard that corporate funds were used to fly in women from across the US for sex at the request of artists and other employees. "There was a course of conduct that became more egregious over time and that conduct does go back to the 90s," says Tony Buzbee, a US lawyer representing dozens of alleged victims, including one who says Combs threatened to kill her in similar terms to the incident Evans says he witnessed. His client alleges Combs raped her on a bathroom floor at a promotional party held for The Notorious B.I.G., the label's biggest star, in 1995. She says in her lawsuit that afterwards, Combs told her not to tell anyone or "you will disappear". In a statement, Combs's legal team accused Buzbee of being "more interested in media attention than the truth" and said the hip-hop star "never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone". The 55-year-old's lawyers said they had not been provided with sufficient details about the BBC's claims to present the facts that would "counter these fabricated accusations". "As we've said before, Mr Combs cannot dignify every publicity stunt or facially absurd claim with a response. He has full confidence in the judicial process, where the truth will prevail: these accusations are pure fiction," they said. A brash go-getter, Sean Combs became an overnight millionaire when he launched Bad Boy Records in 1993 with a roster of top artists. It was Combs's first venture, having already built a name for himself as a talent director at another music label, Uptown Records, aged 19. "He said that he wanted to be one of the biggest artists in the world and it didn't matter if I believed him or not," remembers Jimmy Maynes, a former Uptown colleague. Maynes remembers Combs having a short fuse in the office, sometimes banging "his hands up against the desk" like a "bratty kid" and yelling if he did not get his way. Combs was eventually fired from Uptown and at the age of 23 started Bad Boy Records. "He's the hardest working man that I've ever met and always wanted people to match his energy," says Daniel Evans, a senior executive who managed Bad Boy's recording budgets and artists' contracts between 1994 and 1997. Combs described himself as the "Great Gatsby" and swiftly became known for hosting coveted celebrity bashes at New York nightclubs, on the beaches of Cancun, Mexico, and later infamous "White Parties" - named after the all-white dress code - in the Hamptons. Even President Donald Trump attended events in the 90s, says Evans, who once saw him sit on a golden throne at Combs's 30th birthday and exclaim: "I'm the real King of New York!" "We were all really young. I was 24 years old," reflects Evans, who was one of the label's original employees. "People wanted to party, have fun, hook up and build good memories." But looking back, Evans says he is troubled by some of the things he witnessed about his boss's behaviour and the company culture. In about 1995, he says he walked in on Combs having sex with a young woman at Daddy's House, Bad Boy's New York recording studio near Times Square. "I was getting ready to go home for the night and looking for my jacket. Open the door and he's having sex with this girl," says Evans, who thought the studio was empty as it was silent. Combs swore and shouted at him to leave. "I thought I was getting fired," he says. Evans remembers the young woman had been brought to the studio, presumably for a tour, by a party-promoter who was a friend of Combs. His boss seemed sober, while she was quiet and did not really talk, he says, wondering if she was high on drugs or just shy. He says it did not seem unusual at the time. But recalling how the woman did not react when he entered the room, he says: "Knowing what I know now, there's a lot of speculation about what state she was in… usually both parties are very responsive during the act." Felicia Newsome, the manager of Daddy's House recording studio between 1994 and 2000, says inappropriate conduct in the music industry as a whole was rife at the time. "It was abnormal if somebody reported it, but it wasn't abnormal for it to be happening," she says. Newsome says an employee once called her to the studio in the middle of the night because Combs was in his underwear, about to have sex with a model and another woman. He was demanding the staff member fetch him condoms, she recalls. "I said to Puffy, don't ever ask anyone here to go and get condoms," says Newsome, who arrived while they were getting dressed again. "He replied: 'I didn't need anything like that, ma,' and never did it again." Newsome, then in her 30s, says she found Combs reasonable and that he changed his behaviour when she challenged him. On one occasion, when the studio first opened in 1995, she says Combs was unhappy about the look of the countertops and called her a "bitch" in front of staff. When is Diddy's trial? What to know about his legal troubles Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces more than 100 new assault allegations Sean 'Diddy' Combs: Who is the US rapper accused of sex trafficking? She says she demanded a public apology and temporarily shut the studio, asking him: "If I'm bringing women into this space, which is open 24 hours, how do you want to treat people?" Combs responded that he wanted it to be an inclusive and safe environment, she says. But while Newsome ran the studio with an "iron fist", she says other staff were less comfortable calling Combs out. "Bad Boy Records was a crazy house with a lot of young people who wanted to touch the King's robes," she says. Former staff say the label was run by twenty-something executives and a large number of interns, some of whom were of school age. There were often sexual relationships between employees and the interns, they say. Evans remembers an uncomfortable moment with a 14-year-old in his own team, who he says propositioned him. "She says to me, you work really hard. If you ever want to like, get loose, you and I should kick it… but not tonight, I have a curfew." Evans says he sent her home and called the next day, telling her not to return to work. He did not report her, but two weeks later she was back working in the mailroom. Artists and other employees at Combs's record label would sometimes also request for women to be flown in to have sex at the studio, the former executive says. "If they had a [sexual] specialty in something, they would be flown in," says Evans, who told the BBC he knew because he controlled the budgets. Money for the flights would be set aside and logged under travel, he adds. "It was probably like thousands of dollars," says Evans. "I don't think it happened all that often, but it was definitely a recording expense." Evans says Combs's own requests were managed by his personal assistants. One told the BBC that Combs would often ask them to fly in women he was "messing around with" and put them up in hotels, though the assistant said they were not sex workers. In the 2000s, the Daddy's House recording studio further changed, two former staff say, into a culture of "sex, drugs and rock'n'roll". Combs would regularly bring "random women" there to party, turning up with an entourage of dozens of people in "three white jeeps, with white rims and white leather seats", they say. Other artists would demand suitcases of Ciroc vodka and one even brought a monkey to a session, according to a former executive. The studio is one of the locations where women have since accused Combs of drugging and raping them. Model Crystal McKinney alleges the mogul plied her with alcohol and marijuana before sexually assaulting her there in 2003. That same year, a woman alleges that Combs and two associates gang raped her at the studio when she was 17. Combs's lawyers say he "looks forward to proving his innocence", adding that McKinney's claims are "without merit". Many ex-staff say they still find it hard to reconcile the allegations with the man they knew. "These accusations are a surprise to me, as I am sure it is to many of our circle," says Jeffery Walker, a close friend of Combs who was part of Bad Boy's original production team. "I've been to White Parties and of course studio sessions, and none of what he is accused of went down in my sight." Evans was also sceptical about some of the claims until he saw the footage of Casandra Ventura, Combs's ex-partner of 10 years and a former Bad Boy artist, being brutally beaten by the rapper in a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. Ventura was the first person to sue Combs back in November 2023, alleging that he had trapped her in a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking during their relationship. Combs settled the lawsuit the next day for an undisclosed amount. "It's not the first time I've seen that temper," recalls Evans, thinking back to the death threat he says he witnessed back in 1997. "It's hard to see. The guy in the video with Cassie is almost identical to the guy who threatened the employee. So, you wonder, has anything changed?" Over the years, Sean Combs has repeatedly reinvented himself - from Puff Daddy, to P Diddy and in recent years, "Love". "If I'm acting crazy, like 'ahhh!' that's Diddy. If I'm dancing real smooth with a girl, that's Puff Daddy. And if I'm looking like I'm nervous or scared or shy, that's Sean," he said in an interview in 2015. With more details likely to emerge when he goes on trial in May, many of those who were close to the rapper are questioning whether they knew the real Sean Combs at all. "One could think that he's just a disgusting human being, but that's not my memory of Puff," says Jimmy Maynes, who grew up with Combs in Mount Vernon, New York. But after a pause, he adds: "Or maybe money just gives people the freedom to be exactly who they really are, and he was that guy all along." If you would like to speak to Rianna or Larissa about this story you can get in touch here.
