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Sean “Diddy” Combs has been in the news recently due to his arrest in September 2024but his first scandal happened more than 30 years ago.
New Peacock Documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy delves into the controversy surrounding the December 28, 1991 event promoted by a young Diddy, then working at Uptown Records. To supplement his income, he promoted parties and at one point he and the rapper Heavy D collaborated on a charity basketball game to be held at New York City’s City College.
“Not only was it full inside, there were probably just as many people outside who couldn’t get in,” Tim Patterson, Diddy’s childhood friendhe recalled in the film, which premieres on Tuesday, January 14.
Sonny Williamswhose sister Sonya was killed at the event, claimed that local radio stations promoted the game as if it were being held in a 10,000-seat arena. (The college gym only held 2,730.)
The situation soon turned deadly and thousands tried to get inside before there was room to fit. Nine participants were killed and 29 others were injured.
Jason Swain Peacock
In the documentary, Diddy’s childhood friend Lee Davis (aka DJ EZ Lee) claimed he saw the future mogul “running around trying to save people” who were in danger. “I saw him trying to give people mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Gene Dealwho worked as Diddy’s bodyguard from 1991 to 2005, remembered things differently. “I never saw Sean Combs give CPR to anybody,” he claimed. “If anyone tells you that, they’re lying.
Several Making the Band alumni have come forward with allegations regarding Sean “Diddy” Combs over the years, including Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard and Aubrey O’Day. In the new documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, Da Band’s Sara Rivers is the latest participant to share her story. “People sometimes stop and say: (…)
No criminal charges were filed, but a court later determined that Diddy and Heavy D were 50 percent responsible for the death, while the college was responsible for the other half.
“All the families have settled and received the settlement amount,” he said Jason Swainwhose brother Dirk died in the stampede. “We got $40,000 directly from Sean Combs. But he never admitted it, never just said, ‘I’m sorry.’ There’s a clip of him saying it wasn’t overcrowded. … That is a blatant lie. His image is important to him. Lies returns to City College. If someone found him responsible, it could only slow down the process of all the other things that happened to other people.”
Meanwhile, Sonny recalled accepting $50,000 from Diddy, now 55, after initially hesitating because he felt the amount was too low.
“He’s calling me to the BMG building. It’s just me and him in the office and he looked very nervous. He looked so nervous his lips turned white,” claimed Sonny. “And he says, ‘Sonny, I want to offer you $50,000.’ I remember looking around the office and now I see all these plaques on the wall—platinum plaques, gold plaques. I said, ‘Brother, you started all this and you’re offering me $50,000?’ He said, ‘Sonny, man, listen, man, that’s really generous — that’s a generous gift,’ and I lost it.”
Sonny felt the exchange was a slap in the face, especially since he believed Diddy and Sonya were friends. After the final interview, Sonny “reluctantly” accepted the $50,000 payment.
“I don’t want to talk about money. I want you to help me do something in their memory,” he said to the camera. “I said, ‘But is Sonya your girlfriend?’ He wouldn’t answer me.”
While the crush was a headline-grabbing tragedy, Patterson believes it actually helped make Diddy a bigger household name.
“This thing made him the most famous guy, one way or another,” he explained. “Puffy became more famous. It almost made him weird in a way.”
Diddy was not involved in the documentary, but at the time of the incident he claimed in court that City College was responsible for security at the event. “I regret being the promoter of this event,” he said. “I just pray for the families and the children that lost their lives every day. This is a tragic event and my heart goes out to the families.”
Investigation Discovery’s explosive Sean “Diddy” Combs documentary features new revelations about the disgraced music mogul — including comments from a surprise interview subject — ahead of his human trafficking trial. The network released the official trailer on Thursday, January 9, which featured more than 30 interviews from former friends, employees and colleagues, all of whom (…)
Diddy is currently in prison awaiting trial following his arrest last year allegations of sex traffickingracketeering conspiracy and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. He denied the allegations and denied all charges.
In the statement to My Weeklyhis rep slammed the new film, saying, “This documentary recycles and perpetuates the same lies and conspiracy theories that have been lobbed against Mr. Combs for months. It is disappointing to see NBC and Peacock wallowing in the same mud as unethical tabloid reporters. By providing a platform for proven liars and opportunists to make false criminal allegations, the documentary is irresponsible journalism of the worst kind.
Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy premiere in Paví on Tuesday, January 14.
