Current:Home > MarketsPink Shuts Down Conspiracy Theory About Sean "Diddy" Combs Connection-InfoLens
Pink Shuts Down Conspiracy Theory About Sean "Diddy" Combs Connection
View Date:2024-12-23 14:31:18
The internet just gave Pink a reason to clap back.
The "Raise Your Glass" singer shut down speculation that her decision to wipe all the posts on her X (formerly Twitter) account was related to Sean "Diddy" Combs' arrest for charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering earlier this month.
"I don’t know why I became a headline this week, but I wiped my Twitter account on February 6!!!" Pink wrote in a Instagram post Sept. 25. "There is no truth to the rumors spread this week, and while I’ve met people in passing, I’m not associated with any of the people mentioned."
Alongside her message, the 45-year-old shared a screenshot of her Feb. 6 announcement that she would be deleting her X account history as proof.
And Pink—who was one of several celebrities who have been accused of removing "evidence" of their involvement with Diddy from their social media accounts in light of the allegations he faces—was quick to receive support from fans following her statement.
"The fact she has to do this just goes to show how dangerous the internet sleuthing is," one user wrote on X. "People just say anything for interactions."
Some even defended the "So What" singer before she publicly addressed the rumors, with one fan asking others to leave the singer out of the "deletion drama."
"She quit X in February," the user continued in a Sept. 22 message. "There are even articles about it."
Diddy was taken into custody on Sept. 16 on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to an unsealed indictment obtained by NBC News. Shortly after his arrest, the 54-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges, was denied his $50 million bail request by a judge and was placed on suicide watch inside Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
And while a trial date has yet to be set for the case, the music mogul's attorney Marc Agnifilo said his client is looking forward to testifying in court.
“I don’t know that I could keep him off the stand,” Agnifilo shared in a Sept. 26 preview clip from the TMZ documentary The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment. “I think he is very eager to tell his story.”
Read on for a full breakdown of Diddy's legal woes.
(E! News and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed search warrants at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami properties on March 25, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News.
The sources told the outlet the warrant was out of the Southern District of New York, and a spokesperson for HSI New York confirmed to E! News it “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”
Law enforcement sources told NBC News the music mogul was in the Miami area when the search warrants were executed.
News about the investigation broke after Combs faced allegations of sexual misconduct in lawsuits filed by multiple accusers starting in November, with the musician denying the allegations.
“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday,” he wrote in a December statement posted on Instagram. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
The day after HSI executed the search warrants at Combs' L.A. and Miami properties, his lawyer spoke out.
"Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences," attorney Aaron Dyer said in a March 26 statement to E! News. "There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated."
Dyer noted Combs “was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”
“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” his lawyer's statement continued. “This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”
And Dyer expressed Combs' intent to defend himself.
“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” he added. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
As for what actually went down during the searches, multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant told NBC News authorities with the Department of Homeland Security seized phones from Combs’ home in Miami before he was scheduled to travel to the Bahamas, and several sources familiar with the matter added that guns were discovered during the search.
One source familiar with the matter also told NBC News three women and one man were interviewed by prosecutors and investigators from the Southern District of New York about allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms purportedly tied to Combs.
On the same day the search warrants were executed at Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles properties, one of his associates, Brendan Paul, was arrested by the Miami-Dade police on suspicion of drug possession, a law enforcement source familiar with the matter told NBC News.
According to the Miami-Dade arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, Paul was taken into custody for allegedly possessing suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana candy.
Prison records obtained by NBC News show Paul was released on March 26 after posting bond.
“We do not plan on trying this case in the media,” Paul’s attorney Brian Bieber said in a statement obtained by the outlet, “all issues will be dealt with in court.”
In May, Paul accepted a plea deal, with his lawyer Bieber telling People, "Brendan accepted the prosecutor’s offer to permit his entry into the diversion program which, after completion, the case against him will be dismissed in its entirety."
He was arrested in the lobby of a New York hotel on Sept. 16, 2024, according to NBC News. It's unclear what Combs has been charged with and if the arrest has any potential connection to the raids.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office," his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in a statement to E! News. "He is an imperfect person but Is not criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges."
After Combs was arrested based on the sealed indictment, the indictment was unsealed on Sept. 17.
The 54-year-old was charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; as well as transportation to engage in prostitution, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.
The indictment alleged Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct” for more than a decade, with prosecutors saying the purported behavior started around 2008.
"To do so," the documents stated, "Combs relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled—creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."
According to NBC News, Combs pleaded not guilty and was denied bail.
“He’s going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might,” his attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters outside the courthouse prior to the arraignment, “and the full confidence of his lawyers."
Following his arrest, Combs was held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center where he was denied a $50 million bond. The music mogul was also placed on suicide watch, which a source told E! News is a customary procedure for high-profile inmates.
He was assigned the same area of the jail as cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried, a source told NBC News.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (67691)
Related
- Rōki Sasaki is coming to MLB: Dodgers the favorite to sign Japanese ace for cheap?
- Hungry, thirsty and humiliated: Israel’s mass arrest campaign sows fear in northern Gaza
- NFL Week 15 picks: Will Cowboys ride high again vs. Bills?
- Big pharmacies could give your prescription info to cops without a warrant, Congress finds
- Dave Coulier Says He's OK If This Is the End Amid Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Battle
- NFL Week 15 picks: Will Cowboys ride high again vs. Bills?
- 'The Crown' ends as pensive meditation on the most private public family on Earth
- Few US adults would be satisfied with a possible Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, AP-NORC poll shows
- Minnesota county to pay $3.4M to end lawsuit over detainee’s death
- Hunter Biden defies a GOP congressional subpoena. ‘He just got into more trouble,’ Rep. Comer says
Ranking
- Opinion: NFL began season with no Black offensive coordinators, first time since the 1980s
- Father, stepmother and uncle of 10-year-old girl found dead in UK home deny murder charges
- Father of July 4th Illinois parade shooting suspect released early from jail for good behavior
- Will the American Geophysical Union Cut All Ties With the Fossil Fuel Industry?
- Daniele Rustioni to become Metropolitan Opera’s principal guest conductor
- Rights expert blasts Italy’s handling of gender-based violence and discrimination against women
- Watch: Rare blonde raccoon a repeat visitor to Iowa backyard, owner names him Blondie
- Top EU official lauds Italy-Albania migration deal but a court and a rights commissioner have doubts
Recommendation
-
Threat closes Spokane City Hall and cancels council meeting in Washington state
-
Shawn Johnson Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Husband Andrew East
-
Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly higher after the Dow hits a record high, US dollar falls
-
Artificial intelligence is not a silver bullet
-
Biden EPA to charge first-ever ‘methane fee’ for drilling waste by oil and gas companies
-
Endangered whale filmed swimming with beachgoers dies after stranding on sandbar
-
Hong Kong places arrest bounties on activists abroad for breaching national security law
-
US judge to weigh cattle industry request to halt Colorado wolf reintroduction