Claim:
An image authentically depicts Sean “Diddy” Combs in a bed with people including Jennifer Lopez and Aaliyah.
Rating:
Research In Progress ( About this rating? )
Context:
Similar photographs available via Getty Images and the archives of photographer Patrick McMullan appear to document the same event: a party Combs hosted on July 2, 2000. Additionally, an uncropped, zoomed-out version of the photo appears to depict record executive Damon "Dame" Dash in the bed as well, and he implied in a September 2024 Instagram post that the photo was legitimate. However, there's no definitive evidence to determine the in-question photo's origin. We've reached out to McMullan and are waiting for a response.
In September 2024, shortly after Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering, an image allegedly depicting him in bed with high-profile people including Jennifer Lopez and Aaliyah, the latter of whom died in 2001, went viral on social media .
"Picture of Diddy, Jennifer Lopez & Aaliyah at one of his parties going viral," read a post on X with nearly 50 million views, as of this writing.
Another X user responded , "This been a known picture and only now is it such a bad thing… dropping the ball and picking it up ~20 years later is wild."
The in-question photo does not show any signs of digital manipulation, and similar photos available through Getty and the archives of photographer Patrick McMullan appear to depict the same scene. However, there was no evidence to definitively explain the photo's origin, such as who took it or first posted it online. We reached out to McMullan for more information about the image and are waiting for a response.
A ccording to images available through Getty that appear to show the same event based on people's outfits, the image was taken at a party hosted by Combs on July 2, 2000. (Combs and Lopez were dating at the time. Their relationship ended in 2001.)
In addition to Combs, Lopez and Aaliyah, additional people were photographed on the bed, such as model Natane Adcock and the late record executive Andre Harrell, according to photos captured by McMullan. They showed what appeared to be the same moment from a different angle.
Social media posts with the photo implied its connection to Combs' supposed "Freak Offs" — parties where the mogul allegedly used "force, threats and coercion to get the women to engage with male sex workers," according to the indictment against him, as reported by The Associated Press .
Another version of the in-question photo — one that appears to be zoomed out, uncropped — seemingly shows record executive Damon "Dame" Dash in the bed, as well. That version was posted on Facebook in May 2020.
In an Instagram Live video posted Sept. 22, 2024, Dash commented on the photo, implying that it's legitimate:
"Ain't s--- happen in the Hamptons. That's the day I met Aaliyah. Me and Aaliyah hung out there and then we left. And that's what happened. That was 20 years ago, that was not in LA or Miami. But I know they gonna play games with them pictures — it's all good, I don't really care."
(Dash and Aaliyah were rumored to be dating before her death in a plane crash in August 2001, though the singer told Vibe Magazine at the time: "Damon and I are very good friends. I'll keep it at that right now.")
For years, Combs held celebrity-heavy "white parties" in East Hampton, New York, to celebrate Independence Day. According to a 2016 article by GQ : "What started as a Fourth of July get-together with a strict dress code and Puffy's family and music industry friends in attendance very rapidly grew into the most talked about summer party in the Hamptons for 10 years."
(Getty Images)
Images available on Getty documented attendees of the events, including Salman Rushdie in 2000; Kelly Ripa , Kim Cattrall , and Star Jones in 2004, and Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore in 2009.
We will update this report when, or if, we uncover evidence to definitively confirm the in-question photo's legitimacy.
Sources:
Instagram . https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAMSSriJMYj/?igsh=MW5zMTBvMGJyMTZ4. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024. Kim, Hyun. "Revisit Aaliyah's August 2001 Cover Story: 'WHAT LIES BENEATH?'"
VIBE.Com , 7 July 2020, https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/aaliyah-august-2001-cover-story-what-lies-beneath-682260/.
"Natane Adcock, Damon Dash, Aaliyah, Jay Z, Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs..."
Getty Images , 28 June 2016, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/natane-adcock-damon-dash-aaliyah-jay-z-sean-puff-daddy-news-photo/543494742.
Patrick McMullan . https://awww.patrickmcmullan.com/events/5b3ef4fb9f9290667644c2bc/. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
R. Kelly: INDECENT PROPOSAL : VIBE.Com . 19 Sept. 2008, https://web.archive.org/web/20080919171519/http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2008/09/rkelly_day_part3/.
"Sean 'Diddy' Combs Jailed by Judge after Sex Trafficking Indictment."
AP News , 17 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/sean-diddy-combs-arrested-court-5d570cab4625ca5f9dd16dfd7df4437c.
Sebra, Matt. "The Greatest 4th of July Party That Ever Was."
GQ , 4 July 2016, https://www.gq.com/gallery/puff-daddy-white-party-fourth-of-july-sean-combs.
VIBE. "Jennifer Lopez: 10 Years Later."
VIBE.Com , 18 July 2013, https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jennifer-lopez-10-years-later-167663/.
Local News
