Ray J claims he ‘never ever’ witnessed any misconduct at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ parties amid rapper’s arrest
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ray J is speaking out about his longtime friend Sean 'Diddy' Combs and the infamous parties that have grabbed headlines of late. Despite all the allegations against the music mogul, Ray J insists there’s no criminal activity to see here.
In an interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation show 'CUOMO', Ray J delved into his decades-long friendship with Diddy, offering his perspective on the allegations being made about the rapper.
He insisted that Diddy's parties were great, but they weren’t criminal — at least not from what he experienced.
Ray J defends Sean 'Diddy' Combs amid serious allegations
During his chat with Chris Cuomo, Ray J claimed that he and other celebrities were regulars at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' events but never witnessed any illegal activities like sex trafficking or other crimes that are at the heart of the federal indictment against Diddy.
"Diddy’s been an icon for decades. We’ve all listened to his music," the 'One Wish' hitmaker, now 43, told Cuomo on Friday, September 20.
We’ve all been around him, at least in my era and have looked up to him. And this situation is super unfortunate, but it’s important to learn a lesson right now and ensure the next generation understands how to move differently with transparency and integrity. And I think transparency and integrity, moving forward, should be non-negotiable."
Diddy, 54, found himself in a whirlwind of trouble after his arrest on September 16 as he was slapped with serious charges related to trafficking and racketeering. Although Diddy has denied all accusations, he was denied bail and is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, while awaiting trial.
The allegations against Diddy are disturbing. The 14-page federal indictment paints a damning picture of the rapper.
But while the charges shook many in the industry, Ray J described the claims as "hurtful" and "confusing" for those who thought they knew Diddy well.
"For myself, and I think a lot of other people in this industry, it’s all a shock," Ray J said.
"We’ve never seen the stuff that’s being said and the stuff that people are finding out, like, I’ve never been in rooms that people are talking about, and I never knew they existed. And a lot of people in the industry can agree with me in that sense. … To see where we are now, I just think everybody is still just trying to digest it and understand it."
He continued, “We just need to use it as a moment to reflect, not to criticize, but find a better way to move forward as leaders, individuals in this culture that we’re in right now.”
Ray J also touched on how this is a different time in the industry.
"It’s a different time in this game and, when you look at our mentors and the people that have kind of shaped this culture, it’s important to acknowledge the mistakes they’ve made," he said.
"And we have to hold everybody accountable for what they’ve done, but I don’t think this is a time to tear anybody down, right? Instead, it’s a time for this industry and everybody that’s going through this and seeing this to learn from the mistakes and create a roadmap for the future of the industry together, right, and in unity. That’s the next plan that needs to be put in play."
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer releases statement
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo issued a strong statement upon his arrest on September 16, calling the charges an “unjust prosecution” by the US Attorney’s Office.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr Combs,” Agnifilo said in a statement to Us Weekly.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.”
Agnifilo also insisted that while Diddy may not be perfect, he’s far from a criminal.
“He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit, Mr Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation, and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges."
"Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
