‘Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy’ Documentary Reveals New Details From Al B. Sure! and Alleged Gang Rape Victim

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Two months following Sean “Diddy” Combs’ November arrest on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, the first in a series of substantial documentaries delving into the life of this hip-hop magnate and certain accusations against him debuts this week on Peacock, providing fresh insights into the alleged scandalous past of the accused industry titan.

Diddy: The Rise and Controversies of a Bad Boy explores the life of Combs from his upbringing in Mt. Vernon, beyond New York City, to his meteoric climb within the music industry and some of the serious accusations leveled against him, including previously unshared instances. The film’s creators have organized the narrative around various stories and anecdotes intended to shed light, or at least attempt to, on Combs’ troubled character. These accounts from Combs’ life contain several intriguing new insights into his challenging childhood, a failed initial endeavor in promoting a significant hip-hop event, and testimonies from alleged victims, including women claiming rape and assault, as well as singer Al B. Sure!’s accusations about the demise of Kim Porter, Combs’ late former partner.

During a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, producer Ari Mark explained that the documentary functions as a backstory. He said, “By broadening our perspective and adopting a more psychological and sociological viewpoint, we believed we could make a somewhat larger statement by sharing this information in a different way.

55-year-old Combs is facing over two dozen lawsuits due to allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. At present, he is imprisoned and awaiting his May trial within the confines of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Here are five of the biggest takeaways from the Peacock doc, below.

On Wednesday, reps for Combs denied the allegations in the movie, labeling those interviewed as deceitful and money-grabbing individuals in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but feel disillusioned when I see a documentary peddling the same old fabrications and rumors that have been hurled at Mr. Combs for months on end. It’s disheartening to witness NBC and Peacock stooping down to the level of unscrupulous tabloid journalists. This production, by offering a stage for known liars and opportunists to spout baseless criminal allegations, is the epitome of reckless journalism at its worst.

Diddy Had a Non-traditional Adolescence

The documentary shares insights from Tim Patterson, a childhood friend, about how Sean Combs grew up as the child of the well-known couple, Janice and Melvin Combs, residing in Mt. Vernon, Westchester County, approximately 30 minutes north of Manhattan. However, the peaceful family environment he once knew as a youngster was shattered when his father was arrested for dealing drugs to an undercover officer. Further allegations suggest that his father met a violent end after betraying his criminal boss to the police.

According to Patterson, it was through others that Sean learned about his father. It turns out that Combs’ mother received a specific sum of money which enabled them to live comfortably, away from the less desirable areas. Patterson and his own mother subsequently moved in with them for a couple of reasons: primarily because Combs’ mother wanted him to be surrounded by someone closer to his age.

Patterson describes an encounter with Sean when he was 10 years old, who appeared to be dressed for someone much older. During the school week, Sean was perceived as a wealthy child by his peers. However, on weekends, Sean matured quickly in the company of his mother’s friends. The documentary implies that these experiences played a significant role in shaping Sean’s perspective, influencing his sexual identity, and helping him understand boundaries.

In the documentary, Patterson explains that Sean’s home, which was also their home, was always bustling with activity. On weekends, they often held parties in the house. As for the weekdays, things were still lively. He was surrounded by a variety of people, including those who consumed alcohol excessively, smoked marijuana, struggled with drug addiction, identified as lesbian or homosexual, and even associates like pimps and dealers. This diverse crowd was simply a part of their everyday life at home.

Puff Stopped at Nothing to Get Into the Industry

Ever since I made my debut on MTV back in 1997, I’ve been making a significant impact in the music world. From my association with Faith Evans and our poignant tribute to Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You,” it’s clear that I’ve been an integral figure behind the scenes. My ties to the industry seem as if they’ve always existed, but let me tell you, it all began somewhere – right outside the car of Uptown Records’ top executive, where I spent a night, determined to get my foot in the door.

In the ’90s, I was part of the vibrant music scene centered around Uptown Records, a powerhouse label that catapulted stars like Jodeci, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Mary J. Blige to fame. As Al B. Sure! put it, “It was a mini Motown, but with a fresh, hip-hop twist.” This was the place where a driven individual like Sean Combs kickstarted his career, and he did whatever it took to make it happen there.

According to Patterson, Sean was determined to secure an internship at Uptown. To achieve this, he went through quite a bit of hardship. As a result, he would frequently appear in unusual locations – outside Heavy D’s home, at Uptown itself, and even at parties – all in an attempt to catch the eye of the influential figures.

A crucial step in his early career was managing to catch the notice of Uptown CEO Andre Harrell, who ultimately took him on as an intern and introduced him to the label’s A&R department. However, landing that position wasn’t a straightforward process for Combs. As Rich Parker, one of his friends, shared, “Apparently, he went so far as to sleep outside of [Andre Harrell’s] car, demonstrating his strong desire to be part of this industry.

The City College Stampede Payouts

On December 28, 1991, a devastating incident occurred at City College, claiming the lives of nine fans who were passionate about hip-hop and basketball. This unfortunate event happened due to a crowd surge during an overcrowded gathering. The attraction was a highly anticipated charity basketball game featuring celebrities, with P. Diddy and Heavy D leading the hip-hop stars.

At the event’s date, roughly 5,000 spectators yearned to enter a gymnasium designed for only 2,730 individuals. Eager fans, aiming to witness the game, forced their way into the school, causing a large group to surge down a stairwell towards the double doors that led to the gym. However, these doors swung inward rather than outward, preventing them from opening for 15 minutes as more and more fans continued to press against them. Tragically, 29 individuals, primarily teenagers, were trampled over the nine who perished.

At age 22, he found himself embroiled in his initial scandal and refused to admit guilt for causing a stampede. The authorities concurred and no criminal charges were brought against him. However, he was required to confront the families of the victims and, as a precursor to his current predicament, navigate a tempest of civil lawsuits. He was accused of advertising the event as if it could accommodate 10,000 people, failing to provide adequate security, and overselling tickets.

As a 20-year-old gamer named Sonya Williams from New Rochelle, I tragically lost my life at City College one fateful day. It was through his then-girlfriend that I crossed paths with Combs, who generously gifted me a ticket and invited me to his event that very day. For the subsequent six years, legal battles ensued in the civil case against Combs. Fast forward to when BMG became his office, the now-prominent hip-hop artist, Combs, seemed unusually jittery during our meeting – his lips even turned pale – as he extended an offer of a mere $50,000 to my grieving family. I shared this account with the documentary’s producers during an interview.

He reminisced about glancing around the office and noticing numerous plaques adorning the walls – Platinum ones, gold ones. “I remarked, ‘With everything you’ve got here, you offered me just $50,000,’ he recounted. “To which he replied, ‘Sonny, let me explain, that’s a very kind gesture. That’s a generous donation.’ But I was taken aback. I retorted, ‘Are Sonia your buddy? You gave her the ticket to attend that event while offering me $50,000. That was an insult.’

1998 saw Sean Combs share his thoughts on the tragedy, stating, “City College is a constant part of my daily life.” However, he emphasized that the challenges he faces are insignificant compared to the suffering of the families. Every day, he sends his prayers to the families and the children who perished in the incident.

The Al B. Sure!-Kim Porter-Diddy Love Triangle

Kim Porter, who was Diddy’s long-term partner from 1994 to 2007 before they got together, previously dated Al B. Sure!, whose real name is Albert Joseph Brown, when he was an artist under Uptown Records. Later, Diddy adopted Quincy, Brown’s son. Although specifics about the dynamics of this love triangle have been limited, a recent documentary on Peacock provides some insight into these strains, and in an awkward interview moment, Brown suggests a possible reason for his estrangement from the couple, as well as why he feels he narrowly escaped death in 2022.

In October, rumors surrounding Diddy’s arrest prior to the event began swirling, largely fueled by a post from Brown on Instagram that cast doubt on Porter’s death in 2018 due to lobar pneumonia. This action stirred up further speculation about Combs. In the documentary, Brown comes close to sharing more insights into his theories regarding Porter’s demise, but he holds back, citing ongoing legal matters. However, during his discussion on his relationship with Quincy, Brown does disclose a warning that Porter had given him.

The singer points out that people have been misled by propaganda over the years, saying things like ‘Puffy did this and took your child’… it’s important to note that his real name is still Brown. People thought I was distant or absent, but in reality, I was being told… Combs wasn’t fond of anyone associated with Kimberly… Kimberly warned me, ‘Stay away. You will be harmed.’ I can even recall…

At that location, Brown pauses and informs the producers that his current legal issues advise him to remain silent.

Porter’s death was determined as natural by the Los Angeles County Coroner.

Mark discussed with THR how to encourage Brown’s involvement by reducing the focus on disclosures. “He tends to hold back on things he didn’t wish to reveal,” he clarified regarding Brown’s interview. “I believe people often underestimate the risk involved in producing such projects; it requires a significant amount of trust, and you hope that everything falls into place based on who you are and your motivations.

The Account of an Alleged Gang Rape

The most distressing scene in Peacock’s documentary involves the account given by a woman who accuses Combs, his chief of staff Khorram, and several other men of rape. This woman filed a lawsuit in California in October, claiming that she was raped after being assaulted with a remote control by Combs.

In a court case filed at the U.S. District Court in Northern California, Ashley (known as such in a documentary) claims she first met Diddy (Combs) in Oakland, at the residence of Shane Pierce, whom she had previously met. Pierce is alleged to be one of Combs’ scouts. In the encounter, Ashley says it was awkward because Combs didn’t seem happy when she brought up unverified gossip linking him to the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Upon hearing her comment, Combs reportedly threatened that she would have to pay for making such a suggestion.

Next month, specifically on March 23rd, 2018, Ashley found herself once more at a man’s apartment. It was then that Combs appeared again, accompanied by a group of people, among whom was Khorram. On this occasion, Ashley disclosed various aspects of the rape she claimed had taken place on that day.

The individual identified as Sean Combs had a knife on him and forced it into my mouth. He threatened to carve up my cheeks, giving me what’s known as a ‘Glasgow smile.’ However, Kristina Khorram advised him that his clients would prefer me to look unaltered. At one point, Sean Combs used a TV remote and brutally raped me vaginally.

According to her account, she claimed that Khorram said, “I can transport you anywhere globally and offer you to anyone, ensuring you’ll never be found by your family or those who care about you.” She was further told that they would take her away that very night.

She recounted to the documentary makers how she found herself unable to stop crying uncontrollably. When the assault occurred, she fell into a state of shock and could barely move, just trying to endure until she could escape. Remarkably, when she managed to reach a neighbor and call the police, the responding officer failed to provide any assistance or take her to a hospital following the alleged violent incident. In the documentary, Ashley’s lawyer, Ariel Mitchell, stated that it was confirmed by local authorities that an officer did respond to the neighbor’s residence on that night.

In a pre-written response, lawyers representing Combs stated that they did not find any proof in the police investigation or in the documentary to support Ashley’s allegations as stated in her court filing.

In my own words, I’d say: “The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department has indeed looked into the matter thoroughly, and they’ve found that the allegations made against Mr. Combs were baseless. On the day she alleged an assault occurred, Mr. Combs was nowhere to be found in Orinda, California. Not a single piece of evidence indicates that he and Ms. Parham ever shared the same space. Frankly, her story seems implausible to anyone who examines the facts.

***

Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy is now streaming on Peacock.

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2025-01-14 20:27