Tanya Blount of The War and Treaty, a former Bad Boys Records artist, shares her thoughts on the allegations against the label’s founder, Sean “Diddy” Combs. These allegations have surfaced over the years.

Blount signed with Bad Boys Records in the 1990s, although her album with the company was never released. “Puffy was interesting because being with him was like – we didn’t see this Puffy that people talk about now,” she recalled on a recent episode of Bunnie XO’s Stupid blonde Podcast. “We never saw him drink, we never saw him smoke. I never saw that guy. Being around him was like being in school because you were literally learning as you practiced.”

She added: “Everything has good and bad. I’m really appalled by what I’m hearing now. I had protection too. I was young, but I had a manager who told me, ‘No, you’re not going to that party.’ (…) I also had God protecting me from everything that was happening. I really feel sorry for the people who experienced this.”

A video obtained by CNN earlier this year and dated March 5, 2016, shows Combs shoving his former partner, Cassie Ventura, to the ground near an elevator bank. He then kicks her several times while she is on the ground and drags her down a hallway. This video mirrors an assault allegation Ventura made in a now-settled lawsuit against Diddy in November.

Shortly after, on May 19, Diddy shared a video on social media taking responsibility and apologizing for his actions in the disturbing clip. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you have to,” Diddy says in his Instagram video. “I was devastated. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I’m not making excuses. My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted when I did it and I am disgusted now.”

He continued, “I went out and sought professional help. I had to go to therapy, to rehab. I had to ask God for his grace and mercy. I am so sorry. But I have resolved to be a better person every day. I am not asking for forgiveness. I am truly sorry.”

“The heartbreaking video has only further validated Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory behavior,” Ventura’s attorney Douglas Wigdor said in a statement to Billboard. “Words cannot express the courage and strength Ms. Ventura showed in bringing this to light.”

Ventura was the first to accuse Diddy of sexual assault, filing suit in November. According to her lawyers, she “endured his violent behavior and disturbing demands for over a decade,” including repeated physical attacks and him forcing her to “perform sexual acts with male sex workers” while he masturbated. The lawsuit states that Combs allegedly “forced her into her home and raped her while she repeatedly said ‘no’ and attempted to push him away” after Ventura attempted to break up with him in 2018 following an 11-year, on-again, off-again relationship. The case was soon settled, but Combs was then sued by several other women who claimed they were sexually abused by the hip-hop mogul.

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” Diddy wrote on Instagram in December. “For the past few weeks, I have sat quietly and watched as people have attempted to destroy my reputation and my legacy. I have had vile accusations made against me by people looking to make a quick buck. Let me be very clear: I have done none of the horrible things I am accused of. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Source: CNN, Billboard