Did Diddy use the rich and famous to hide in plain sight? Star enjoyed A-list endorsements from Obama to Oprah Winfrey and British royals

As one of the world’s top musicians, Diddy has rubbed shoulders with some of the most influential figures of the 21st century, from British royalty and former US presidents to  Hollywood A-listers like Oprah Winfrey. 

The 54-year-old musician – real name Sean Combs – partied with Princes William and Harry during a post-concert shindig hosted by the royals, dated Jennifer Lopez, and had been a mentor to pop star Justin Bieber.

And he counts former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump as some of his other celebrity fans, with business titan Trump once hailing him a ‘good friend’ and ‘good guy’ and Obama reportedly ‘hanging out’ with him on occasion – while Vice President Kamala Harris has also publicly praised him. 

But now the hip-hop mogul’s prized place in the high-flying global elite looks to have imploded as he faces multiple charges of sex trafficking and racketeering as well as transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs was seen embracing William at the event in London, which was attended by an array of stars 

Diddy was has also been linked with Donald Trump, with Donald Trump – who once hailed the hip-hop star a ‘good guy’. (Diddy and Trump are pictured in 2005 with Melania Trump, left)

Diddy was a support of President Barack Obama (left) and the pair reportedly used to ‘hang out’ from time to time. 

And the under-fire singer was also appeared friendly with Hollywood legend Oprah Winfrey (pictured left with Combs at a party in New York)

Combes is now behind bars after and has reportedly been placed on ‘suicide watch’ after the billionaire’s $50m bail bid was thrown out by a New York federal judge. 

The rapper has been accused of hosting sordid sex parties, referred to as ‘freak offs,’ during which it has been alleged his victims would be drugged, forced to have sex for days on end, and left with such severe injuries they needed weeks to recover. 

Diddy has vociferously denied all allegations against him and has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. 

And although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by his friends, the fallout of these allegations against him could see some of his inner circle of celebrity pals being hauled into court to testify against him, experts have claimed. 

It comes as experts today claimed stars and royals who fawned over P Diddy at the height of his fame would be embarrassed and ashamed by his fall from grace.

Experts today said that Sean Combs ‘used’ these stars to hide in plain sight.

One mover and shaker on the celebrity scene in London and LA at the time told MailOnline: ‘I know there are people who partied with him who are now utterly ashamed.

‘They were used.’

Combs allegedly ran a criminal enterprise from at least 2008 and is accused of using drugs and violence to to force women to ‘fulfil his sexual desires’, according to prosecutors.

And he is accused of sexually abusing and even raping men at parties where drinks were spiked.

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede said Diddy ‘manipulated’ people including the British royals.

Combs (pictured right) is seen partying with Prince William (left), Prince Harry (second from right) and Kanye West at the Concert for Diana’s after party in 2007

Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z posed with Diddy at the star-studded soiree in 2019 to mark his 50th birthday

He said: ‘P Diddy was a clever manipulator who used his status and fame and money to gain access to the most important people on the planet.

‘Aligning himself with Royalty and Government enables him to become almost untouchable hiding in plain sight – something that we have come to recognise as a similar trait as both Epstein and Weinstein.’

Combs has been a central figure in Hollywood for decades and his inner circle has included the likes of Jay-Z and Beyonce, Usher, Rick Ross and Justin Bieber. 

He also has a reputation for ‘throwing the ‘best parties’, court documents have claimed. 

His extravagant 50th birthday bash, held at a Beverly Hills mansion in 2019, saw Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pharrell, and Snoop Dogg – who appeared as a cultural ambassador at this year’s Olympics – in attendance. 

And in 2007 he was pictured with Prince William and Prince Harry at a post-concert celebration the royals hosted to thank all those who part in the ‘Concert for Diana’ at Wembley Stadium. 

The now estranged royal brothers posed for photos alongside Combs and Kanye West, with the Duke of Sussex throwing an arm across the jailed mogul’s shoulder while the Prince of Wales appeared to embrace him.

Earlier this year, Prince Harry’s name appeared in US court documents related to a $30million lawsuit claiming that ‘Diddy’ is a sexual abuser of men and women. 

Record producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones’ filed the bombshell lawsuit against Diddy and claims that his ‘affiliation’ to the Duke of Sussex and other stars gave him and his associates ‘legitimacy’.

The court documents filed in the US back in February did not suggest any wrongdoing on Prince Harry’s part. He is not a defendant and is named once in the 73-page document. 

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales is not named in the court documents. It is not known how many times Harry has met the rapper since then, if at all.

While Harry is not facing a legal claim, it is not the first time the royals have been embroiled in serious court allegations in the US, with Prince Andrew forced to settle a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, a sex slave of Jeffrey Epstein.

As well as British monarchs and pop royals, Combs has also curried support from former US presidents and other high-flying political figures. 

During his time hosting The Celebrity Apprentice, President Donald Trump spoke of Diddy, telling then-contestant Aubrey O’Day: ‘I love Diddy. You know he’s a good friend of mine, he’s a good guy.’ 

As well as British monarchs and pop royals, Combs has also counted support from former US presidents and high-flying political figures. He is pictured left with President Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump in 2005

Kamala Harris has also previous spoken out about Diddy thanking him for his support in 2020 after he hosted a political town hall about Covid-19. Ms Harris is pictured on September 17, 2024 during an election debate, with her tweet to Diddy, above

Aubrey earlier had said she had worked with Combs for ‘six years’ which she said trained her to ‘be perfect’. Asked if Diddy was a ‘good guy’ by Trump, Aubrey said: ‘I don’t want to answer that question.’

‘Oh well I think he’s a good guy, I’m gonna stick up for him,’ the former president responded.  

Diddy is also a major figure in Democratic Party politics. He’s a well-established friend of President Barack Obama. The two have been pictured ‘hanging out’ on a number of occasions over the years, including in his post-presidency – and Obama was fond of joking about Combs’ numerous name changes.

‘When Puff Daddy changed his name to P. Diddy, he wanted to change it to ‘Pimp Daddy’, Obama once joked in an interview. ‘But he didn’t think we would approve.’

In 2008, just days before the election, Combs made a last effort to curry the favour of Black voters for Obama’s presidential campaign at a Democratic event – dubbed the ‘Last Chance For Change Rally’ – in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

While in 2020, current US VP Kamala Harris – now the Democratic frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race – thanked Combs for hosting a political town hall about Covid-19.

‘There’s a lot at stake for our communities right now and it’s critical we bring to the forefront how coronavirus is perpetuating racial inequality and health disparities,’ Harris wrote on X.

In 2006, ‘Diddy’ sat down with Hollywood royalty Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview – about 15 years before the bombshell interview to the Hollywood legend by Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. 

Others among Combs’ circle of celebrity pals includes Canadian pop royalty Justin Bieber. 

Bieber is said to be so deeply ‘disturbed’ by the news of Diddy’s arrest on sex-trafficking charges that he’s cut himself off from the world (pictured in 2014) 

Bieber was just a child when he forged a friendship with Combs (Pictured in 2010)

‘Disturbing’ footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs with 15-year-old Justin Bieber has resurfaced online after the rapper was arrested on sex-trafficking charges

Bieber’s relationship with the music mogul goes back to the latter’s teens, when he was discovered as a budding YouTube artist by Scooter Braun and R&B star Usher.

Footage of Combs with a then 15-year-old Bieber has resurfaced online after the rapper was arrested on sex-trafficking charges.

X/Twitter users have branded the footage ‘creepy’, in which sees Diddy, who is 24 years older than Bieber, documents his ’48 hours’ staying with the young singer.

In the clip, Combs stands next to the young pop sensation and tells the camera: ‘He’s having 48 hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose.

‘But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.’

The hip hop mogul, 54, adds: ‘I have been given custody of him. He’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album.’

Diddy continues: ‘I don’t have legal guardianship of him [Bieber] but for the next 48 hours he’s with me and we’re gonna go full crazy.’

Bieber, now 30, is said to be so deeply ‘disturbed’ by the news of Combs’ arrest on that he’s cut himself off from the world.

In March, another old clip of Bieber and Diddy resurfaced shortly after Homeland Security raided the music mogul’s properties in Miami and Los Angeles 

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider said that the new dad has been completely ‘thrown’ by the harrowing allegations and is grappling to make sense of them – especially given that he collaborated with Combs less than a year ago.

The source said of the fragile singer: ‘Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off.

‘So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him.

‘Justin hasn’t been responding on this since the home raids. He’s not going to.’

The insider added that Bieber also deeply regrets having collaborated with the disgraced mogul last year, and would never have done so had he known the allegations that have since come to light.

They continued: ‘He had a long break from Diddy when he believes most of this took place and he had distanced himself from him.

‘He was featured on Diddy’s most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it.’

Also part of the inner circle Usher, who has claimed he was exposed to some ‘pretty wild’ stuff while living with Diddy aged 14.

Usher himself has claimed he was exposed to some ‘pretty wild’ stuff while living with Diddy aged 14 in 1994 (pictured in 2022) 

In an unearthed interview from 2016, the Burn singer revealed details about his time living with Diddy in the spring of 1994.

While appearing on The Howard Stern Show, Usher, 45, alleged that it was record producer L.A. Reid’s idea to have him live with the R&B singer in Scarsdale to ‘see the lifestyle’.

When asked if Diddy’s ‘place was filled with chicks and orgying nonstop’ by Stern, Usher replied: ‘Not really… I got a chance to see some things … I don’t know if I could indulge and even understand what I was looking at.

‘It was pretty wild. It was crazy. There were very curious things taking place and I didn’t necessarily understand it,’ he admitted.

As for whether he would send his children to ‘Puffy Flavor Camp,’ Usher responded with an emphatic: ‘Hell no!’

Back in 2004, Usher told Rolling Stone that Diddy introduced him to ‘a totally different set of s**t — sex, specifically.’

Jennifer Lopez once revealed how Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (pictured together in 2000) was the first man to cheat on her during their ‘tumultuous’ relationship from 1999 until 2001

The pair (pictured in 2015) bonded over their love of music, and Diddy quickly became like a ‘mentor’ to the Jenny from the Block songstress

‘Sex is so hot in the industry, man,’ he continued. ‘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.’

Combs’ former lover Jennifer Lopez was also critical of the star, once revealed how he was the first man to cheat on her during their ‘tumultuous’ relationship from 1999 until 2001.

She later said she ended things because she didn’t feel like she could have the family life that she dreamed of with the musician.

Lopez claimed he had cheated on her, telling Vibe magazine in 2003: ‘It was the first time I was with someone who wasn’t faithful.

‘I was in this relationship with Puff where I was totally crying, crazy and going nuts, it really took my whole life in a tailspin.

‘I never caught him but I just knew. He’d say he was going to a club for a couple of hours and then never come back that night.’

Combs and Lopez during the 1999 MTV Music Awards. The pair’s romance first began while Jennifer was preparing for the release of her debut album, On The 6, which he helped produce

Combs and Lopez attend the after party for the finale of the singer’s residency at Caesars Palace on September 30, 2018 in Las Vegas

The pair’s romance first began while Lopez was preparing for the release of her debut album, On The 6, which Combs helped produce.

During their relationship, Lopez debuted her most famous outfit during the Grammy Awards ceremony in 2000. The green silk chiffon dress from Versace was super low-cut, barely covering her cleavage.

But the couple also hit headlines after Lopez and Combs were arrested on December 27, 1999, following a shooting outside the Times Square Club in Manhattan.

The two were charged with criminal possession of a weapon, though the charges were later dropped against her as she was determined to be uninvolved.

Lopez broke up with the rap mogul a month before his trial was slated to begin in 2001. He was ultimately acquitted on all charges. 

Kim and Khloe Kardashian were joined by half-sister Kylie Jenner as Combs’ hosted an extravagant 50th birthday party at his $40million Holmby Hills mansion in 2019 

Beyoncé and Jay-Z were in also attendance at the event in Los Angeles, five years before the same property was raised by Homeland Security 

Others included on Diddy’s high-profile list of pals are Kim and Khloé Kardashian. 

They were joined by half-sister Kylie Jenner as Combs’ hosted an extravagant 50th birthday party at his $40million Holmby Hills mansion in 2019. 

Five years later the sprawling property would be raided by Homeland Security as part of a sex trafficking probe, but on that December night it played host to an array of celebrity friends. 

Record producer Stevie J recently shared a video of the event, which was attended by stars including the Kardashians, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Naomi Campbell and the late Kobe Bryant.

Posting the clip on social media, he wrote: ‘This is what a real Diddy Party looks like.’ 

Following his arrest this week, Combs has since been likened to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after sordid new details emerged of the sex rooms in his Miami home where he hosted his ‘freak offs’.

One of the Department of Homeland Security agent who helped raid the rapper’s Miami mansion claimed there were rooms within the property solely ‘dedicated to sex’ with cameras planted all around.

Speaking to the NYP , the unnamed federal source said if you were attending and participating in Diddy’s sex parties, or so-called ‘freak offs’, ‘you were being recorded from every possible angle, including angles you wouldn’t have known about’.

The singer’s ‘freak offs’ allegedly saw drugged up women being forced to sleep with male prostitutes in scenarios that Combs, 54, orchestrated, filmed, and masturbated to.

‘In my opinion, he’s as bad as Jeffrey Epstein,’ the source added, referring to the late pedophile and disgraced financier.

An artist’s impression of Combs as he attends a bail hearing in federal court in the Manhattan borough of New York City

These aerial images taken in October 19, 2023, show the sprawling waterfront properties owned by the embattled rap mogul, real name Sean Combs, that were raided by federal agents

One federal source likened Combs to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (pictured)

Officers claimed they spotted several similarities between Combs and Epstein – who was thrown behind bars for trafficking dozens of young girls in New York and Florida.

Epstein, who was awaiting trial on additional charges died in his cell in August 2019. 

On Monday, Combs was sensationally arrested at Park Hyatt Hotel in New York City and was later charged with sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution – all of which he pleaded not guilty to in a Manhattan court on Tuesday.

According to the bombshell indictment, Combs allegedly forced women – some of whom were still teenagers – into days-long drug-fueled orgies.

He allegedly arranged and directed the sex parties, while masturbating throughout the performance and supplied women drugs such as ecstacy, ketamine, and BHB to keep them energized, federal prosecutors said.   

The indictment added: ‘After freak offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use’. 

Prosecutors said that the music mogul’s employees covertly booked hotel rooms for the ‘freak offs’, while stocking them with baby oil, lubricant, and extra bed sheets.

But the federal source told the news site that following their thorough raids, they unearthed evidence that revealed the women didn’t feel like they were free to go, adding video evidence showed women who were ‘clearly out of it’ while having sex with the men.

Combs would often tape the ‘freak offs’ to use as leverage to silence the women, and was known to choke, shove and throw people to the ground, prosecutors added.

‘The sensitive, embarrassing and incriminating recordings that he made during Freak Offs as collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims,’ the indictment said.