In a recent essay for The New York Times, former Vibe editor-in-chief Danyel Smith has accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of threatening her life over a 1997 cover dispute.
Smith detailed the incident, explaining that in 1997 she chose Combs for the cover of Vibe magazine’s December/January issue. The photoshoot, inspired by the poster for the 1978 film Heaven Can Wait, featured Combs with angel wings. The issue was set to have two covers: one with heavenly imagery and another with a hellish theme.
After the shoot, Combs requested to see the covers, which Smith denied as it was against the magazine's policy. Following her refusal, Smith heard that Combs intended to confront the Vibe team at their office to demand changes if he disliked the chosen covers.
Smith recalled that Combs had a history of violent behavior, including a 1996 incident where he threatened a photographer with a gun. Concerned for her safety, Smith and her team devised a plan to protect her if Combs showed up at the office.
One day, Combs did arrive with two security guards, asking for Smith. The staff, forewarned by the receptionist, quickly moved Smith between offices, allowing her to escape with the cover proofs.
The next day, Combs called the office and, according to Smith, threatened her life. “He wanted to see the covers. I was still on message: It’s not what we do,” Smith recounted. Combs allegedly told her he would see her "dead in the trunk of a car." Smith responded by demanding he retract the threat, warning she would contact her lawyer. Combs then allegedly acknowledged knowing her location. Two hours later, after legal threats from Smith's lawyer, Combs sent a faxed apology.
Following this confrontation, Vibe’s servers, which contained the entire issue, were stolen. This led to speculation that members of Combs' label, Bad Boy Entertainment, might have been involved in the theft.
Smith’s essay was published amidst Diddy's mounting legal troubles, including a sex trafficking probe and several sexual assault lawsuits.
No comments:
Post a Comment