Unpacking the Drama: The Parties Behind Diddy's Downfall 2024

There was a time when getting an invite to one of Sean “Diddy” Combs' parties was like holding a golden ticket in the entertainment world. His guest lists were star-studded, featuring names like Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, and Jennifer Lopez, making it a prime opportunity to mingle with A-listers. Even Jay-Z and Beyoncé dropped new tracks at his events.

Rob Shuter, who used to be Diddy's publicist during his peak, shared with BBC News, “When Diddy gave you that wink and invited you to the VIP area, you just knew it was going to be an epic night.”

Now, though, Diddy finds himself in a Brooklyn jail, not far from the Hamptons, where he used to throw lavish celebrity parties.

His rapid fall from grace comes with serious federal charges related to a sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Plus, he’s facing over a dozen civil lawsuits accusing him of various assaults, including rape and sexual extortion. One attorney claims to represent more than 100 alleged victims who say they were abused. Despite all this, the Harlem-born rapper has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding both the criminal and civil claims.

A spokesperson for Diddy told BBC News that

"Mr. Combs remains strong, healthy, and disciplined, fully committed to his defense with the unwavering support of his family, legal team, and the truth."

He’s scheduled to stand trial in May 2025.

In the Los Angeles area, the rapper resided on what’s now recognized as the priciest street in Beverly Hills. The tall fences give celebrities a chance to stay out of the spotlight. Just a few doors down is Hugh Hefner’s iconic Playboy mansion. At Mr. Combs' estate, the grand gates are lit with flaming torches around the clock.

Neighbors told the BBC that they frequently called the police due to the raucous parties. A freedom of information request revealed that police were sent to the P Diddy mansion for parties 14 times over a span of seven years. On a street where privacy is key, no one wanted to go on record, but neighbors shared their frustrations with the BBC, saying they were tired and disturbed by the scene.

“For six or seven years, it was just nonstop parties,”

one neighbor recounted, mentioning that she often saw women wandering out at all hours, seemingly disoriented.

She noted they looked "lost" and "their underwear was showing." Getty Images Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and Sean "Diddy" Combs were spotted at a 2006 White Party event. Getty Images Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian were among the guests at the 2006 White Party. Mr. Combs’s mansion in Beverly Hills was one of the spots he used for his annual “White Party,” a signature event he hosted from 1998 to 2009. He kicked off the parties in the upscale Hamptons with a strict all-white dress code, uniting the old-money elite of East Hampton with the emerging hip-hop scene. Mr. Combs once said these gatherings were meant to bridge racial and generational divides. However, a recent lawsuit claims that the most anticipated party of the year was merely a "facade" for "sinister" activities. In a lawsuit filed this week, a man who was 16 at the time recounted the excitement of attending Mr. Combs’s inaugural “White Party” in 1998. Upon entering the Hamptons mansion, he was greeted by a crowd of celebrities and entertainment executives.