T his month, the world witnessed surveillance video that would forever change whatever reputation remained for Sean “Diddy” Combs . The undeniable imagery of Combs beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel hallway left no doubt in the minds of anyone who watched it that the hip-hop superstar was, at the very least, an abuser. Combs had already been accused of a slew of horrifically violent behaviors after Cassie first alleged that she suffered beatings , psychological torment, and more at his hands in a lawsuit against him last November.
Since then, six more suits have emerged, alleging the rapper and former brand mogul engaged in rape , assault, forcible drugging, and even a sex trafficking operation. Now, five former Combs employees told The Daily Beast that the rapper’s allegedly abusive tendencies in his personal life extended to a disturbingly toxic work environment. Former employees of Combs’ lifestyle brand Sean John and Blue Flame, his now-shuttered advertising agency, recalled “erratic” behavior while under Combs’ employ, including instances where he grabbed, berated, and threatened them.
These former staffers spoke to The Daily Beast under condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. One female Sean John ex-employee shared a harrowing account about a time Combs grabbed her face following a disagreement about a creative decision. “He didn’t like that I wasn’t agreeing with him, and he wasn’t interested in hearing my point of view,” the.