This submit comprises discussions of home violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Peacock’s new documentary about Sean “Diddy” Combs makes an attempt to cowl an entire lot of floor in a comparatively brief period of time, which makes the function really feel unglued, unfocused, and not sure of itself. Nonetheless, because of some poignant first-person testimonials — together with one from Combs’ oldest good friend — it does nonetheless provide some chilling revelations in regards to the disgraced rap mogul that make it definitely worth the watch.
Listed here are a number of the greatest takeaways from Diddy: The Making of a Unhealthy Boy.
His childhood might have impressed his infamous social gathering life.
The only most compelling and informative a part of the documentary is the interview with the person Combs grew up with, Tim Patterson, which might be why his dialog items function the backbone of your complete factor.
In his interviews, Patterson revealed that after Combs’ father died — allegedly, by homicide after feeding data to the police about his gang associations — he and his mom have been invited to maneuver into their residence, and Patterson regarded Combs as well-to-do because of his upscale fashions and nicer home. The 2 then grew up collectively, and when Combs was picked on as a toddler, Patterson protected him till he deployed for the navy. When he got here again from service, he was shocked to listen to Combs discuss with himself as “Puffy” however believed it was a protection mechanism to put aside the a part of him that was bullied.
Patterson maintained that whereas Combs has been “monsterized,” it could be a product of his childhood, wherein his mom commonly threw very grownup events on the residence that the then-children witnessed. Patterson’s disappointment over what’s develop into of his “brother” is palpable, and he left the music business to reside off the grid after too many physique luggage started to pile up within the enterprise.
His personal bodyguard disputes hero accounts from the lethal CCNY stampede.
One in all Combs’ first huge strikes on the East Coast rap scene was to advertise a fundraiser with then-mentor Heavy D. The occasion, which was meant to be an AIDS profit and occurred on the Metropolis Faculty of New York in Deceber 1991, was closely promoted, and 1000’s of individuals confirmed up — almost twice the quantity that might match into the gymnasium.
On account of a crowd rush, a number of individuals have been crushed, together with 9 fatalities. Two victims’ family participated within the documentary and straight blamed Combs for over-selling the occasion and denying duty. One stated he was insulted by however reluctantly accepted a $50,000 settlement for his sister’s wrongful loss of life underneath strain from Combs, whose web price on the time was a reported $40 million.
If that wasn’t surprising sufficient, there have been additionally conflicting studies — even among the many individuals who participated within the documentary — about whether or not Combs tried to render assist to the victims when all the pieces went asunder. Whereas DJ EZ Lee reported seeing Combs try to present “mouth-to-mouth” to individuals within the crowd, Combs’ bodyguard Gene Deal vehemently denied the identical, calling it a “flat-out lie.”
His late ex’s former flame believes he had a hand in her loss of life — and his personal near-death expertise.
One other jaw-dropping contribution to the documentary is that of Al B. Positive!, who had a previous relationship (together with a son) with Combs’ on-again-off-again girlfriend Kim Porter. Whereas noting that there have been authorized constraints to his testimonial, because of pending litigation, Al B. Positive! shared his suspicion that Combs and his associates might have been accountable for the sudden loss of life of Porter, whom he’d seen in good well being simply two weeks prior.
Although her reason for loss of life was formally dominated as pneumonia-related, and even Porter’s kids dispute the allegation there was any foul play in her passing, Al B. Positive! insisted there was one thing suspicious about her sudden situation. Plus, he stays satisfied that his personal devastating well being scare would possibly’ve been Combs’ doing as properly, believing himself to be the sufferer of an tried assassination. (The allegations have been denied by Combs’ reps in written statements supplied within the documentary.)
Combs’ bodyguard doesn’t dismiss the concept that he contributed to Biggie Smalls’ homicide.
There have lengthy existed rumors that Combs might have had one thing to do with the taking pictures loss of life of Christopher Wallace a.okay.a. The Infamous B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. Deal revealed that he was with Combs on the night time of the homicide, once they have been heading to a celebration, and he didn’t low cost the chance that it was a setup by his personal boss.
The truth is, he revealed that Wallace needed to go to London, however Combs insisted he wouldn’t be touring and was the one to ask Wallace to the social gathering they have been en path to on the time of his homicide. Per Deal, Wallace “needed out” of Unhealthy Boy Data because of the strict contractual necessities that it might preserve the “publishings” of its artists.
Peacock
One alleged sufferer of Combs’ sexual crimes barely escaped to inform the story.
The documentary scratches the floor of the numerous, many sexual misconduct allegations towards Sean Combs, together with his supposed “after after events” and the videotapes he might or might not have fabricated from well-known individuals in compromising positions. By far, essentially the most horrific elements of that dialogue are these of the alleged victims.
One such is Sara Rivers, who participated in Combs’ Making the Band actuality competitors sequence and alleged that whereas they have been alone, he “touched [her] in a spot that he shouldn’t have” and made her really feel “intimidated” and terrified of being alone with him once more.
One other is the make-up artist for Combs’ ex Cassie Ventura, who she allegedly witnessed being brutalized by Combs after he got here residence indignant at her for being at a celebration. (Combs was later captured on safety cameras bodily assaulting her at a resort in 2016.)
Ashley, who was too afraid of retribution or recapture to indicate her face within the documentary, additionally spoke out and alleged that she was invited to Combs’ residence the place she was raped by Combs and others and warned by Combs’ chief of workers Kristina Khorram that she may very well be despatched off wherever on the planet. Ashley stated she managed to flee to a neighbor’s residence, regardless of dropping her keys, garments, and cellphone, however was instructed by the police to seek out her personal method residence. (Once more, within the feedback supplied to the documentarians, these allegations have been denied or feedback declined.)
Diddy: The Making of a Unhealthy Boy, Streaming Now, Peacock
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