Diddy Trying to Save His Friend Chris Brown After He Abused Rihanna in His Lamborghini in a Monstrous Incident Didn’t Age Well

Time has a way of throwing our past choices into sharp relief, doesn’t it? What once seemed like a thoughtful or protective stance can, with the passage of years, take on a very different tone. That’s exactly what happened with Sean Combs, who defended Chris Brown after the infamous 2009 assault on Rihanna. And in light of Diddy’s own recent legal troubles, his comments certainly haven’t aged well.

Let’s rewind to 2009. The world was reeling after hearing about the assault that took place in Brown’s Lamborghini, just hours before the Grammys. Rihanna, bruised and shaken, became the tragic symbol of abuse, while Brown faced criminal charges, public backlash, and widespread condemnation. But rather than joining the chorus of voices demanding accountability, Diddy took a different approach when he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Diddy’s 2009 Defense of Chris Brown Didn’t Age Well

A slip of the tongue can come back to bite you years later—especially when it’s tied to sensitive topics like abuse. A clip of Diddy from the Ellen DeGeneres Show resurfaced, reminding the public of his response to the Chris Brown and Rihanna assault, an incident that shook the entertainment world.

In his conversation with Ellen DeGeneres (via The Ellen DeGeneres Show), Diddy tried to sidestep placing blame on either party. He said:

This sounds reasonable at first—the kind of neutral statement that can keep a person’s hands clean in a controversial moment. But as he continued, his words became more convoluted. Sean Combs cryptically mentioned that relationships sometimes become “ugly” behind closed doors:

The truth about abuse is always more complicated than it seems from the outside looking in. And that’s what Diddy tried to express during his appearance on DeGeneres’ show. He added:

He was careful not to point fingers, suggesting that both parties involved might have played a role in the altercation. In the years that followed, Combs faced his own share of controversies that painted him in a much less favorable light.

The man who once defended Brown is himself facing accusations of abuse, including a highly publicized assault on his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Allegations of s*xual abuse and physical violence against multiple women have since surfaced, forcing his own celebrity peers to distance themselves from him.

Chris Brown’s Excuses for His Violent Past

The infamous 2009 incident between Chris Brown and Rihanna is still one of the most talked-about moments in pop culture.

Brown has, at times, tried to play the victim, excusing his actions with justifications that have only complicated the conversation around domestic violence. In his documentary Chris Brown: Welcome to My Life (via Stylist), the R&B singer recounted his version of the violent altercation:

He went on to describe how Rihanna allegedly kicked him, prompting him to punch her in the face, leaving her with a “busted” lip.

From this recollection, Brown tried to paint the incident as a mutual altercation, describing it as a “fight” between them. He said he “really hit her” and was in shock after realizing the extent of the damage. He recalled: 

For those who might not be in the loop, Brown admitted to felony assault against his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, in 2009 (via Billboard). As a result, he was handed five years of probation and ordered to complete six months of community service.