The celebrity friends and connections of embattled rapper P. Diddy

Oct 16, 2024

Oh, how the tables have turned! A little over a month ago, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs or P. Diddy was regarded as one of the biggest and most respected personalities in Hollywood. That all changed when he was arrested on September 16 2024 on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Now, Combs is in custody, accused of crimes that put him on the same page as the likes of Jeffery Epstein. As a long-dominant figure in Hollywood, P. Diddy has invariably made friends with many important figures and A-listers in the industry. So, let’s take a look at who the most influential figures are in the celebrity friend circle of P. Diddy.

Disclaimer: The article contains sensitive information that may be upsetting to readers.

Since his arrest, Sean “Diddy” Combs has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the allegations made against him, including heading a years-long scheme to sexually abuse and exploit women and minors. According to reports, the rapper-turned-businessman exploited his business empire to commit these crimes, coercing victims into participating in recorded sexual acts known as “Freak Offs.”

Following his arrest, Diddy’s closest friends have maintained their silence. With social media buzzing with allegations of Diddy’s associates potentially attending his “Freak Offs”, this silence comes as little surprise. However, it has also sparkled speculation that some of them may have been complicit or aware of the rapper’s misconduct.

At a recent press conference, Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee revealed that 3,285 individuals have come forward with claims of victimisation. He added that his firm has been engaged by 120 people to bring civil claims against the rapper. Half of the accusers are men and half are women. Furthermore, 25 of the accusers were minors at the time of the alleged incidents.

Following these revelations, the internet has been abuzz, with online sleuths unearthing old videos in which celebrities discuss attending Diddy’s “white parties.” Adding fuel to the fire, numerous celebrities have also removed tweets from ages ago, further escalating the widespread speculation. Unfortunately, Combs’s inner circle includes some of Hollywood’s top personalities, with many of them now coming under scrutiny for their previous associations with him. Let’s take a look at the celebrities who are close friends with P. Diddy with long-documented ties.

Two of the wealthiest music moguls of the modern age, P. Diddy and Jay-Z aren’t just friends; they have also worked together in various business ventures. The friendship blossomed in the 1990s when both were making their names in the hip-hop industry — Diddy with Bad Boy Records and Jay-Z with Roc-A-Fella Records. During this period, they were considered friendly rivals, each establishing their own empires and trying to top the charts. Despite the competition, there was never any serious conflict between the two; instead, they frequently collaborated and supported one another’s initiatives.

Throughout the years, Diddy and Jay-Z have been spotted together at a number of events, award shows, and parties. They’ve worked together on music, and in 2010, even co-headlined a concert series to showcase their friendship. Both have openly praised the other’s impact and successes, with Diddy lauding Jay-Z’s economic acumen and Jay-Z recognising Diddy’s pioneering role in combining music, fashion, and other endeavours. Beyond music, their bond has also grown into a business. Both have made an impact in fields such as fashion, spirits, and media.

Despite their close friendship, Jay-Z has not spoken about Combs’ incarceration. This has only fueled online speculation that Jay-Z is aware of, and was possibly involved in Diddy’s debauchery. Adding onto the media firestorm, Combs’ long-time competitor 50 Cent took to IG to roast Combs and Jay-Z in March after the FBI raided Combs’ homes, posting, “Anybody seen Jay LOL.” The post was accompanied by a picture of Jay-Z’s face on a milk box with the phrase “Missing.”

Two months later in May, 50 Cent once again took shots at Jay-Z, posting, “Jay in hibernation he ain’t coming outside till this sh–t with puff blow over, no brunch, no lunch, No dinner. LOL.”

P. Diddy and Beyoncé have had a professional and friendly relationship since the early 2000s, with a friendship stemming primarily from their shared relationship with Jay-Z. The rappers have been friends and collaborators for years, so it’s understandable that Diddy has communicated with Beyoncé on multiple occasions. They’ve attended a lot of the same industry events, award shows, and parties, where they were seen socialising and supporting one another’s work.

Combs’s connection with Beyoncé has somehow sparked a huge controversy on the internet. Past videos showing artists like Adele and Lizzo thanking Beyoncé while receiving their awards have resurfaced, and the internet is convinced that the artists are thanking Beyoncé to save themselves from her wrath. The entire debacle has even sparked a trend among TikTokkers who are now thanking Beyoncé for the most mundane things. Some conspiracy theorists have even suggested that Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s VMA speech in 2009 to ‘save’ her.

And that’s not all. Controversial starlet JoJo Siwa referenced the viral conspiracy on stage at the Industry Dance Awards this past week, stating: “I also have to say thank you to Beyoncé, just so that we can keep the dancing community safe.”

However, Siwa is not the only star who has publicly acknowledged the conspiracy. Television personality Piers Morgan recently issued an apology to Beyoncé and Jay-Z following an interview with singer Jaguar Wright on his show. Wright, who had previously collaborated with Jay-Z and several other artists, went viral after making some outrageous claims about P Diddy, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z on the show.

Usher and Diddy have had a long-standing association since the early 1990s, when the former was newly signed with LA Reid. As a rising star in the music business, Usher was sent to live with the already-established Diddy in New York City at his ‘Puffy Flavour Camp’, where he was expected to learn the ropes of the industry.

During their time together, Diddy served as Usher’s mentor, helping him to develop his sound, stage presence, and overall identity as an entertainer. Usher often credited Diddy with teaching him crucial lessons about the music industry, such as how to handle stardom and develop a brand.

Usher has joked about his time living with Diddy in interviews, implying that he was exposed to an adult lifestyle well beyond his years. While the singer has been frank about his experiences, sharing that he ‘went there to see the lifestyle and saw it’, he has never expanded further on Diddy’s parties. In an interview with Howard Stern, Usher revealed that living with Combs was “pretty wild”. He went on to say, “There were very curious things taking place, and I didn’t necessarily understand.”

Notably, when Stern asked if he would send his kids to Diddy’s camp, Usher’s response was a resounding “H–ll no”. Further fueling online speculation, Usher’s X account was suddenly wiped clean a few weeks ago, leaving fans wondering if it was related to Diddy’s arrest. However, he later cleared up the confusion, writing in a post that he had been hacked.

When marketing executive Scooter Braun discovered 13-year-old Justin Bieber on YouTube, he left no stone unturned in signing him on. Bieber was brought into the fold under the Raymond Braun Music Group, a joint venture created specifically by Braun and Usher for the young Canadian musician. The then-teenage Bieber was mentored by Combs, a setup made possible through Usher’s connections on both ends. Understandably, Combs has played an integral role in introducing the young Bieber to the world of fame, success, and the lifestyle that comes with it.

Following Combs’ arrest, an old video uploaded to Bieber’s YouTube channel in November 2009 has resurfaced. In the video, which was first posted when Bieber would have been around 15 years old, revealed that Combs and Bieber would be spending 48 hours together. Speaking directly to the camera, Combs said, “Where we’re hanging out and what we’re doing, we can’t really disclose, but it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.” Combs also claimed that he did not have legal guardianship of Bieber for the 48-hour period, as he did when Usher stayed with him.

In another video from December 2010, taken when Bieber was 16, Combs is shown teaching Bieber how to “swag walk.” In an eyebrow-raising moment, the older performer said, “You starting to act different, huh? You ain’t been calling me and hanging out how we used to hang out.”

It was also in 2010 that Diddy promised Bieber a white Lamborghini for his sixteenth birthday, providing he kept working hard on his career. In a resurfaced 2011 clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live!, in which Combs and Bieber were guests, Kimmel asked Combs about the Lamborghini. In response, Combs said, “He had the Lamborghini for a day or two and had access to the house.” Then, he added, “He knows better than to be talking about the things that he does with big brother Puff on national television. Everything ain’t for everybody.”

Despite their close friendship, Diddy did not officially collaborate with Bieber until 2023, when they worked together on his song, “Moments”.

While Bieber has gained a massive following across his years in the industry, he has also been heavily criticised for engaging in troublemaking behaviour in his teenage years and early 20s. The singer has openly talked about his drug addiction and mental health issues. With the recent revelations surrounding Diddy, fans are now speculating on Diddy, and even Usher’s influence in leading the young Bieber down the path of self-destruction. If the speculations turn out to be true, Bieber could very well be one of the biggest victims of P Diddy. However, Bieber, who has just welcomed his first child, Jack, with wife Hailey, has not responded to any of the drama.

P. Diddy and Ashton Kutcher may seem like an unusual pairing, but they are close friends. Both are well-known for ventures outside of their major careers — Diddy in music and business, and Kutcher in acting and technology interests. Their friendship came into the public eye around 2008, when they began to co-host events and parties together. The two were known for hosting lavish, star-studded parties, particularly in Los Angeles, and they have even collaborated to promote Diddy’s vodka brand, Ciroc. Kutcher is known to have maintained a regular presence at Combs’s parties.

Recalling the beginning of their friendship, Kutcher said, “It started over Punk’d because he was like, ‘Yo, you can’t punk me!’ I was like, ‘I don’t know what to tell you, everybody is on the table.’ He’s like, ‘Not me, I’m off the table.’ That started our conversation. We became fast friends and we used to just hang out, watch football together.”

Following Combs’ arrest, rumours began to swirl, alleging that Kutcher’s wife, Mila Kunis, had moved out of their house due to his connection with the music mogul. Neither parties have officially confirmed the rumours. Additionally, other rumours also allege that the couple may officially leave Hollywood and relocate to Europe permanently.

A source close to the actor has claimed to Dailymail that he hasn’t had anything to do with Combs “for years”. “He attended a few of his parties back in the early 2000s — but literally everyone did. They were not freak-offs.” The source added, “He has nothing to do with any of that world, so for anyone to assume that he will get roped into this based on a few grainy photos that are more than 20 years old is ridiculous.”

Diddy aka Puff Daddy and JLo famously dated on and off for two years from 1999 to 2001. Unsurprisingly, their time together was not without controversies, as the couple became involved in a nightclub shooting. Despite being arrested, Lopez was immediately freed, whereas Diddy had to face and defeat claims of weapon possession and attempted bribery related to the incident.

Lopez later told Vibe magazine, “I was in a relationship with Puff where I was totally crying, crazy, and going nuts. It really took my whole life in a tailspin.” In spite of that, the once-lovers have been amicable, and have praised one another in public. In her 2024 documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told, which details her romance with now-ex Ben Affleck, Lopez mentioned that she had been “manhandled and a couple of other unsavoury things” in her past relationships. While Lopez did not name names, the internet has been rife with speculations that she was referring to Diddy. Other rumours also suggest that her past relationship with Diddy, as well as the existence of alleged incriminating video footage also contributed to Lopez and Affleck’s divorce.

The Kardashians and hotel heiress Paris Hilton are famous for their socialite status and their partying. Notably, members of the Kardashian family have been seen partying with the rapper on many occasions. In a 2014 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Khloé Kardashian even talked about going to a party where “half the people were butt-naked.” Her sister Kourtney rattled off a list of attendees, which included, “Diddy, Quincy, Justin Bieber, French Montana.” To this, Khloé said, “So far, so good.”

Hilton Heiress Paris, however, is a close friend to the Kardashian family, especially Kim. As expected, Hilton has attended many parties hosted by the music mogul, including his 50th birthday bash. She later gushed about it, saying, “Puffy’s 50th birthday. It was so sick. Epic.”

(Main and featured image: Johnny Nunez / Getty Images)

Digital Writer, Fashion, Lifestyle and Entertainment

After graduating from Calcutta University, Pallabi started her writing career as a freelancer. "She's so pieces" is the phrase that describes her the best. Pallabi is another typical introvert who loves ..Read Moreto hide behind written words. Music is her comfort language. Binge-watching and eating delicious foods is her favourite pastime. Read Less