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Am old interview clip featuring R&B singer Usher has resurfaced amid federal raids on the homes of music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – who is facing multiple accusations of sexual abuse.
The clip shows the now 45-year-old’s candid recollections of his time living with Diddy, 54, at the age of 13, shedding light on a world of hedonism and shady sexual practices.
Diddy, widely credited for nurturing up-and-coming talents like Usher, played a pivotal role in shaping the singer’s early career.
Following a record deal with LA Reid, Usher found himself under Diddy’s mentorship, residing in the music mogul’s New York home for a year, an experience dubbed ‘Flavour Camp.’
In a now-chilling 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, Usher vividly recounted Diddy introducing him to ‘a totally different set of s*** — sex, specifically.’
Describing an environment decidedly inappropriate for a tween, Usher detailed encounters with orgies and other explicit scenes, offering a window into a lifestyle prevalent in the music industry at the time.
‘Sex is so hot in the industry, man,’ he said, recalling, ‘There was always girls around. You’d open a door and see somebody doing it, or several people in a room having an orgy. You never knew what was going to happen.’
Years later, Usher revisited these memories on the Howard Stern show, where his revelations painted a vivid picture of his formative years. Describing his time at Diddy’s home as ‘pretty wild,’ Usher emphasized witnessing ‘curious things.’
‘In the nineties, do you understand what that’s like?’ Usher questioned seriously. ‘I went there to see the lifestyle,’ he continued. ‘And I saw it. But I don’t know if I could indulge and understand what I was even looking at. It was pretty wild. It was crazy.’
Despite the allure of the kind of life Diddy was modelling for his young mentee, Usher expressed uncertainty about fully comprehending what he saw at the time, underscoring the complexities of navigating fame and temptation at a young age.
Stern probed further, asking Usher whether he would send his own child to live with Diddy, to which Usher emphatically responded, ‘Hell no.’
The resurgence of Usher’s interview coincided with federal raids on Diddy’s residences in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation. While Diddy has vehemently denied all allegations against him, the raids have prompted scrutiny and reactions from many.
Diddy’s lawyer denounced the raids as a ‘gross use of military-level force’ against an ‘innocent’ man, stressing that neither Diddy nor his family members have been arrested.
Amid ongoing lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct, Diddy’s legal team has staunchly defended his innocence, labelling the accusations as baseless.
The federal raids occurred at Combs’ $40million home in LA’s Holmby Hills neighbourhood and his Miami, Florida home on Star Island.
Reports from Fox 11, claiming to have been first on the scene at the LA raid, revealed that multiple individuals were detained although Combs himself was not among them.
‘Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide further information as it becomes available,’ an HSI spokesman said in a statement, according to the LA Times.
This comes after it was revealed in court documents filed in the US last month that Diddy held sex-trafficking parties to which he drew guests with promises of his ‘access to celebrities,’ including Prince Harry.
The documents do not suggest any wrongdoing on Prince Harry’s part.
These investigations follow a series of legal battles involving Combs. In February of this year, a male producer on Combs’ latest album, The Love Album: Off The Grid, filed a lawsuit. Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones accused Combs of coercing him into sexual activities with sex workers, as well as allegations of drugging and threats spanning over a year.
Responding to the lawsuit, Combs’ legal representatives dismissed the claims as fabricated and aimed at sensationalism. They asserted having overwhelming evidence to disprove the accusations and expressed readiness to address them in court. Attempts to communicate this evidence to the plaintiff’s lawyer reportedly went unanswered.
In addition, Combs faced accusations of rape and physical abuse from his former partner and R&B singer Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura in November 2023. Initially denying Ventura’s allegations, Combs swiftly settled with her out of court.
Subsequently, two more accusers emerged, one alleging Combs was involved in drugging and sexually assaulting her, while the other accused Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall of rape in 1990 or 1991. Combs refuted both claims, declaring his intent to defend his reputation and integrity. Aaron Hall has yet to respond to the allegations.
In another incident from that December, Combs faced allegations of involvement in the ‘gang rape’ of a 17-year-old girl, which he has vehemently denied.
As investigations unfold and public interest intensifies, Usher’s candid reflections offer a poignant glimpse into Diddy’s excessive lifestyle.
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