What Did Diddy Do?

"Diddy parties" and "freak-offs" are a collective name for the parties hosted from the 1990s to the 2020s by American rapper and record producer Sean Combs, known professionally as Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy and P. Diddy). The initial series, known as White Parties, were a series of parties hosted by Combs between 1998 and 2009. Many were held at Combs's house in East Hampton, New York. The 2006 White Party was held in Saint-Tropez in the south of France; the final White Party—the final Diddy party of any sort—took place in Beverly Hills, California. White Parties typically began during the day and lasted until the early hours of the next day. The events were often sponsored by prominent brands that gave away merchandise. Numerous celebrities attended one or more of the parties, including Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton. Beyoncé and Jay-Z released new music at these parties. Held in private mansions, luxury hotels, and occasionally on yachts, they were characterized by their over-the-top nature—featuring everything from celebrity DJ sets to intimate performances. According to The New York Times, the choice of the color white as part of a strictly-enforced dress code was intended by Combs to strip away people's image and put them on the same level, creating "a certain pristine simplicity". Combs said that the parties were also intended to break down generational and racial barriers among people. The BBC said the parties brought together "East Hampton's old-money elite and the rising stars of hip hop". After Combs's 2024 indictment on sex trafficking charges, some party attendees, including columnist R. Couri Hay, revisited their experiences at the parties—also termed freak-offs—in light of the sexual misconduct allegations against Combs, with the parties becoming a focal point of lawsuits and criminal investigations against Combs, ranging from drugging and coercing women into sexual acts to physical assault and intimidation. Elements revisited include their opulence and secrecy, and performances that "blurred the line between entertainment and exploitation". While some attendees viewed these parties as glamorous, others have since described them as exploitative and coercive.