Naomi Campbell, a long-time friend of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, threw him an extravagant birthday party filled with stars.
The British supermodel celebrated Diddy‘s 53rd birthday on November 9, 2023, by hosting a lavish party at the upscale LAVO restaurant, located within London‘s luxurious BoTree Hotel. The guest list was impressive, featuring celebrities like Janet Jackson and Idris Elba. Naomi, 54, looked stunning in a deep-cut black dress as she posed for photos with Diddy and other celebrity guests. Pictures from the event were shared online, giving fans a glimpse into the glamorous night.
However, just a week later, serious allegations against Diddy were made by his ex-girlfriend Cassie. The singer, who started dating Diddy in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 37, accused him of being ‘prone to uncontrollable rage’, and detailed several instances where he allegedly subjected her to ‘savage’ beatings.
She also claimed that he had forced her to engage in sexual acts with other men while he watched. Diddy strongly denied these accusations. The case was settled in a single day, with lawyers stating that the claims had been resolved ‘amicably’ to the ‘mutual satisfaction’ of all parties involved. No further details about the settlement terms have been revealed.
Naomi threw Diddy a party ( Image: PA)
Diddy was hit with three felony charges ( Image: Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Amid troubling accusations hurled at Diddy, both Naomi and Janet, 58, swiftly deleted their photos from the event. Now, with Diddy in the spotlight for allegations involving racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to partake in prostitution – which he staunchly denies – we’ve delved into the tie that binds Naomi and Diddy, including rumors about an old romance.
Speculation around Diddy and Naomi started circulating in 2001 after they posed for Vogue together. Whether they were an item remained a mystery, with rumors circulating that their ‘romance’ was nothing more than a charade aimed to spruce up Diddy’s image following his split from Jennifer Lopez.
An insider spilled to Star magazine: “After Jen’s embarrassing kiss-off, Puffy got it in his head that people thought less of him as a man. He was ready to do just about anything to change his image as a loser in love.”
However, during this period, Naomi had her own engagement with Flavio Briatore, leaving her initially less than thrilled at the idea. Yet, she came around after Diddy laid out the detailed plans.
The source went on: “Sean told Naomi that he desperately needed ‘prestige’ on his arm to recover his ‘ladies’ man’ reputation. [She] promised to help by appearing in public with him. But she warned, ‘That’s the only kind of boost you’ll be getting from me’.”
Naomi’s spokesperson, who confirms the supermodel usually keeps her love life under wraps, has previously stated that she and the music mogul are strictly pals. Throughout the years, Naomi and Diddy have maintained their close friendship, even showing up together at the 2018 Pirelli calendar launch event, which featured an Alice in Wonderland theme.
Naomi, stunning in a glittering sequinned dress, clarified the purely friendly nature of her relationship with Diddy to the press on the red carpet. Speaking to AOL, she said: “We’ve known each other for 20-something years, and he’s been consistently the same. We really do have a brother-sister relationship, and I adore him.”
This news surfaces as Naomi reveals she has engaged new advisors to delve into the occurrences at her Fashion for Relief charity following her five-year ban from serving as a trustee, criticizing parts of the regulatory body’s report as ‘deeply flawed.’
120 cases are set to be filed against Diddy ( Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Addressing PA, Naomi expressed: “First of all, I recognize that, as the face of Fashion for Relief, I am ultimately responsible for its conduct. Unfortunately, I was not involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization, and I entrusted the legal and operational management to others. I want to assure everyone who has supported us that these findings are being taken very seriously. I have instructed new advisers to undertake a detailed investigation of what transpired.”
Naomi passionately asserted her commitment to charity and clarified her financial involvement, stating: “I’ve dedicated nearly 30 years of my life to charitable initiatives, and I care deeply about the value and impact of the work I do. Typically, I align my charity work with paid assignments, which cover my travel and related expenses. In cases where this is not possible, either myself or personal friends have covered the expenses.”
She also addressed a specific claim regarding hotel expenses in the report, revealing: “In fact, in terms of the specific hotel expense mentioned in the report, the hotel has confirmed that all charges were settled by my personal travel agent, who in turn verified that they were reimbursed directly by a third party unaffiliated with the foundation.”
The rapper was arrested in New York ( Image: Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference)
In a separate development, Diddy finds himself incarcerated in New York without bail after a recent raid by federal agents. The rapper is currently facing serious allegations including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and involvement in prostitution, but he has maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty to all charges.
While there’s no date set for his trial as yet, Diddy is set for a status hearing on October 9.
