Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: What it was like to follow ‘the Pied Piper of partying’ | Ents & Arts News

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Sean “Diddy” Combs was a prominent figure in New York’s vibrant social scene.

Now in a Manhattan courtroom, with gray hair and a grown beard, it’s hard to reconcile his current stance with the image of “the Pied Piper… of the most elite level of partying at that time,” as described by Amy DuBois Barnett.

As the first Black-American woman to lead a major mainstream magazine in the U.S., she was at the heart of Manhattan during hip hop’s peak.

“Urban culture was the lifeblood of the city,” she states. “That’s where much of the money flowed… finance professionals sought entry to Puffy (Combs) parties, and fashion executives clamored for invitations.”

Though embraced by the top tiers of the arts and entertainment industry, she remarks, “He was never regarded as a calm individual.”

Combs displayed a “very dismissive” demeanor towards her, and she concedes: “Puff never quite liked me.”

Even so, DuBois Barnett found herself invited to his parties due to her ability to spotlight emerging artists in her magazines.

From her role as editor-in-chief of Ebony magazine, she progressed to lead Honey and Teen People magazines, later becoming deputy editor of Harper’s Bazaar.

She recalls that the man she encountered at these gatherings seemed “complicated” and “lacked warmth.”

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“The energy shifted the moment he entered a room. Puffy surrounded himself with trusted individuals… the area around him would quickly fill up with those vying for his attention,” she explains.

“This could be another reason he seemed to be less fond of me, as I didn’t seek his attention in the same manner.”

“He primarily reserved his attention for individuals he found attractive or those he deemed significant to his business endeavors.”

She highlights that it was common knowledge not to cross him, given the “rumors… of what he could do.”

“Many individuals in journalism and across various industries feared his influence and his temper,” she adds.

“At parties, if things did not unfold as he wished, or if someone didn’t deliver promptly, or if discussions weren’t going in his favor… he would snap, unafraid to raise his voice at anyone present.”

“There were minimal boundaries in his communication, to put it mildly.”

However, she reflects on an era dominated by significant misogyny in music, with instances that today’s culture would question more critically.

“I experienced numerous incidents, such as being groped at parties and getting locked in a limousine by music executives who refused to let me out until I complied with their demands, which I never did.”

She affirms: “We lacked the language to grasp how problematic these situations were… it was an undercurrent in the culture.”

Star-studded parties were the ultimate invite

During that period, an invitation to one of Combs’s extravagant “white parties” was highly coveted.

She confesses: “It was unparalleled… adherence to a strict dress code was enforced.”

“No beige or ecru, only white; individuals could be turned away for the slightest fashion faux pas. Puffy demanded his guests embodied a ‘grown and sexy’ aesthetic.”

Guests would gather poolside, enjoying top-tier DJs, while topless models posed as mermaids, and waiters circulated with weed brownies on silver trays.

“Everyone notable was present, creating a stunningly glamorous atmosphere.”

Yet beneath the glitz, prosecutors now accuse Combs of wielding his power for sexual abuse and violence. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and vehemently denies them.

There’s no doubt that Combs possessed a Midas touch, transforming his music career into business ventures valued at approximately £1 billion by 2022. His success was oft-celebrated.

“Within the Black community, there is a sentiment that if a Black man achieves success, he should not be brought down because such figures are rare… these cultural dynamics are deeply linked to systemic racism in the U.S… possibly protecting Puffy from scrutiny.”

The couple grew ‘isolated and very unhappy’

Throughout two decades, as Combs amassed considerable wealth, DuBois Barnett notes a marked change in his demeanor from her first party to her last.

“The final gathering was a post-Grammys party in 2017 or 2018, and the atmosphere was starkly different. He appeared isolated in a corner alongside Cassie, looking genuinely unhappy.”

For nearly a decade, Combs maintained a relationship with singer Cassie Ventura that concluded in 2018.

Once the relationship ended, she filed a lawsuit that both parties eventually settled, alleging trafficking, rape, drugging, and physical abuse, all of which he denies. Last week, she reiterated similar claims in court.

“Cassie appeared very glassy-eyed, and there was a palpable sadness in her demeanor. Whatever transpired between them seemed far from positive,” reflects DuBois Barnett.

“They seemed secluded in their corner for nearly the entire evening… it felt notably different from the lively energy he once exuded.”

For Combs, his fate hinges on the unfolding weeks. His representatives assert he is a victim of “a reckless media circus,” maintaining that he categorically denies any sexual abuse and is eager to vindicate himself.

In particular, they emphasize his anticipation to establish the “truth… grounded in evidence, not speculation.”