If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
As Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and abuse investigation intensifies, all of his previous interviews are being put under the microscope and fans are noticing a lot of red flags that may not have been taken as seriously in hindsight—case in point: his many appearances on The Ellen Show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
Related: Diddy’s Victims Include Ex-Cassie & At Least 4 Others Who Claim He ‘Mentally, Emotionally & Physically’ Abused Them
It started with allegations of assault from his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in November 2023. A lawsuit filed in federal court says Combs was “prone to uncontrollable rage” and subjected her to “savage” beatings. Several other women follow suit. Then, in March 2024, federal officers raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation.
Diddy was arrested on September 16 in New York and pled not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, drug offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Should we have cottoned on sooner?
Diddy’s interviews with Ellen DeGeneres resurface
-
“It’s somebody else’s business”
Image Credit: The Ellen Show / YouTube In 2009, Diddy sat down with Ellen to talk about trying to reunite Chris Brown and Rihanna at his home as news was circulating that Brown had assaulted her. “Why would you give Chris Brown, a guy who hit a girl, and he’s jetskiing around … I’m a huge fan of Chris’ music, but to hit a girl—” Ellen said, to which Diddy interjected, “It’s my house, I’m allowed to give my house to whoever I want, number two is, I’m the type of person who don’t cast judgment on anybody. If a friend’s asked me for a favor, then I’m going to be there for them, as long as the energy is positive.”
He continued, “It was a dark time for them and I was there as a support, that was it.” Ellen acknowledges him wanting to be a supportive friend, but said, “I don’t want any girl out there thinking it’s OK to go back to a guy who hit her. And I don’t mean to put you in it. Because it’s not you.”
Diddy responded, “I don’t think it’s right for anybody to hit anybody,” he said. “I think we all have to be honest with ourselves as adults, and people who have been in relationships,” he continued. We know sometimes those relationships get ugly, and sometimes it doesn’t come out to the forefront the way this one has come out. There’s a lot of stones being thrown, and we don’t know exactly what happened.”
“The red flags were always there but ofc the media and everyone else ignored them,” one Reddit user wrote after seeing the clip recently. “Oh boy, that’s some dark energy,” wrote a second, as another viewer wrote on X: “His response is crazy.”
-
He issued an apology
He later apologized for the 2009 interview, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable,” he said in a video shared to Instagram, adding he was “disgusted” and “sought out professional help” after the incident including therapy and rehab. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I’m committed to be a better man each and every day.”
-
“I invite you to all my parties”
Image Credit: The Ellen Show / YouTube During an appearance on The Ellen Show in 2009, season 7, Ellen asked Diddy if she was invited to his birthday party. “I invite you to all my parties but you just haven’t seemed to show up,” he said. He goes on to explain that the parties usually start at 9.30 pm, which surprised Ellen because she thought it would start later.
The parties that start at midnight, though, “that’s a different type of party,” he said. “We have the top two floors of the hotel,” he explained. “And then will it carry on there?” Ellen asked with eyebrows raised. “The afterparty,” he said. “Oh no, I know about them,” Ellen said.
-
“I want my life to be full of surprises”
Image Credit: The Ellen Show / YouTube Diddy made another appearance on The Ellen Show in 2018 and it must’ve been close to Halloween because Ellen did one of her scare-the-shit-out-of-my-guests segments. She heard Diddy was afraid of clowns, he assured her that he wasn’t. Lo and behold, a clown jumped out and terrified him (didn’t see that one coming, did ya?).
He lept out of his chair and then told Ellen, “I woke up this morning and I said, ‘I want my life to be full of surprises,’ so thank you, Ellen,” and he leaned over to give her a hug. “You dance when you get scared,” Ellen observed. “You really affected my street cred,” he said, laughing.
In the comments section, his “surprises” comment found a whole new meaning amid his sex trafficking investigation. “I want my life to be full of surprises”…. Your wish was granted!” wrote one. “The real monster was standing next to the clown,” said another. “When diddy said ‘i got so many other things to be fearful of’ now we know what he meant,” said a third.
