Sean “Diddy” Combs, his family members, and former partners have all been placed under a microscope since he was arrested last week. Now, four of Combs’ seven children are condemning “hurtful and false rumors” about their late mother, Kim Porter.
Combs was indicted on racketeering and sex-trafficking charges by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, 10 months after an explosive lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, accused Combs of rape and abuse throughout their relationship. (Combs denied the claims and they quickly reached a settlement. He pleaded not guilty in court and is currently awaiting trial.)
Due to the nature of Ventura’s allegations and the details in his unsealed indictment — as well as the 11 additional civil lawsuits that have been filed against Combs alleging assault, sexual misconduct, and other crimes — his past romantic relationships have become a particularly fierce source of speculation in tabloids and social-media comment sections.
Some have even gone so far as to suggest that Combs had a hand in Porter’s sudden death.
On Sunday, the Daily Mail published an article with the headline, “What really happened to Diddy’s dead girlfriend Kim Porter as wild conspiracies swirl.” Two days later, the British tabloid followed with another that reads, “Haunting Diddy X post to ex-partner Kim Porter as stars call for full investigation into her death.”
Combs and Porter began their long-term on-and-off relationship in 1994. They shared four children: Porter’s son, Quincy Taylor Brown, was born in 1991 and later adopted by Combs; the couple’s biological son, Christian Combs, was born in 1994; and their biological twin daughters, Jessie James Combs and D’Lila Star Combs, were born in 2006.
Combs and Porter broke up for the final time in 2007 after Porter discovered Combs had been unfaithful while she was pregnant with their daughters. (Combs’ other daughter, Chance Combs, was also born in 2006 to another woman.)
At the time, Porter told Essence that she secretly packed and left their home when Combs was out of town.
“There was no other way,” Porter said. “You think he would have let me walk out the door? He wouldn’t have wanted me to go.”
Asked if she was scared of Combs’ reaction, Porter replied, “No! Not at all. But I wanted to be dramatic.”
Porter died in 2018 from lobar pneumonia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She was 47.
A few days after Porter was found dead at home, Combs shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, which has since been deleted.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you baby. I miss you so much,” he wrote, per People. “Today I’m going to pay tribute to you, I’m going to try and find the words to explain our unexplainable relationship. We were more than best friends, we were more than soulmates.”
Quincy, Christian, Jessie, and D’Lila defended their parents’ relationship in an open letter
Combs’ four children with Porter shared a joint statement on Wednesday, published by Essence.
Quincy, 33, Christian, 26, Jessie, 17, and D’Lila, 17, denied rumors that a memoir purported to be written by Porter before her death circulating online was authentic and denounced anyone speaking to the press on behalf of their mother.
They also shut down the “horrific conspiracy theories” that have been swirling around Porter’s “tragic passing,” particularly noteworthy given that Porter’s ex and Quincy’s biological father, Albert Joseph Brown III (aka producer Al B. Sure!), recently shared an Instagram post calling for an investigation into Porter’s death.
“Our lives were shattered when we lost our mother,” the statement reads. “She was our world, and nothing has been the same since she passed. While it has been incredibly difficult to reconcile how she could be taken from us too soon, the cause of her death has long been established. There was no foul play.”
Quincy, Christian, Jessie, and D’Lila also requested privacy as they grapple with their mother’s death and father’s arrest.
“We are deeply saddened that the world has made a spectacle of what has been the most tragic event of our lives,” the statement reads.
“We ask that everyone please respect our mother, Kim Porter, and hold her legacy in high regard so that she may rest in peace,” the letter concludes. “It’s what she deserves. We love you and miss you, Mommy.”
This marks the first time any of Combs’ children have spoken publicly since his arrest — although Quincy and Christian, as well as Diddy’s 30-year-old son, Justin Combs, were all seen in court during Combs’ bail hearings last week. Before the start of one hearing, Combs looked back at his family and held his heart before sitting down, as one of his sons held up his hands and shaped his fingers like a heart.
Christian is facing his own allegation of sexual assault
In April, Combs was named as a co-defendant in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles against his youngest son.
A woman named Grace O’Marcaigh alleged that Christian drugged and groped her on a luxury yacht where she was working as a steward.
The lawsuit, reviewed by BI, includes an audio recording of the incident, indicating that O’Marcaigh asked Christian to stop touching her and to “take your hand off my ass.”
It also states that Combs chartered the yacht in December 2022. O’Marcaigh said Combs had full control over the vessel’s staff.
“The apple does not fall far from the tree,” reads the lawsuit.
Combs and Christian’s attorney, Aaron Dyer, denied the allegations and called the lawsuit “lewd and meritless.”
Jacob Shamsian contributed reporting.
Read the full article here
