Former Rapper Shyne Distances Himself From Diddy After Mogul's Arrest: 'I Moved On'

Shyne attends the 2022 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2022 in Los Angeles.Photo byDeposit Photos

Former Bad Boy Records rapper Shyne says he takes "no joy" in anyone being incarcerated, although he's not exactly sad about Sean "Diddy" Combs' arrest this week on trafficking charges.

Shyne, who is currently the opposition leader in the House of Representatives in Belize, made the comment to local news outlet Channel 5 Belize during recent interview.

“When I was an 18-year-old kid just wanting to do nothing other than make my mother proud and make Belize proud and do what all of us want to do, be recognized for our talent and take over the world, I was defending him, and he turned around and called witnesses to testify against me," Shyne said. "He contributed — he pretty much sent me to prison."

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Shyne, whose legal name is Moses Michael Levi Barrow, was convicted of assault, reckless endangerment and gun possession for a 1999 New York City nightclub shooting involving Combs.

The Belize native served eight years in prison and was deported back to his homeland. Combs was also arrested in the case, but a jury found him not guilty of all charges.

Despite the legal ordeal, Shyne said he’s not angry with Combs.

“Yes, I forgave. I moved on. But let’s us not pretend as if I was in Miami for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” he explained.

Still, the 45-year-old politician has remained in contact with Combs and even appeared on stage with the mogul in London, for a surprise performance at a charity concert in 2023.

When pressed about being photographed with Combs at the event, Shyne said he was there for a good cause.

"I went to do a charity event for impoverished youth in London. Let us not lose sight of what the cold hard facts are. This was not someone who I vacationed with, and who he and I enjoyed this great intimate relationship of brotherhood. This is someone who destroyed my life, and who I forgave, and who I moved on, and for the better interest of Belize because he was in the position at that time to give scholarships and to maybe invest. I would not deny attempting to bring the investment to Belize and bring the contributions to education to Belize,” he explained.