Sean “Diddy” Combs legally changed his name to Sean Love Combs in 2021. The music producer went into detail on why he decided on a new moniker during the 2022 BET Awards
Many know Sean Combs as Diddy, but there was a time when he legally changed his name.
The hip-hop mogul legally changed his name to Sean Love Combs in 2021. Diddy announced the news on Instagram in May 2021, sharing a picture of his updated driver’s license at the time. He also got the word “love” tattooed on his body. The music producer has had many nicknames like Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Sean John and Brother Love over the years.
At the 2022 BET Awards, Diddy was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Before accepting the honor, artists such as Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Lil Kim and others performed a tribute to him. Diddy then accepted his award and thanked many who helped him through his journey such as his mother, his team and even his ex of six years, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
He also explained how everything he did was through “god and love,” something he “evolved to be.” Diddy also shouted out Andre Harrell, who died on May 7, 2020. Andre hired Diddy as an intern at Uptown Records in 1990. The two parted ways in 1993 due to creative and business differences. The tables turned when Diddy then hired Andre as the vice chairman of his Revolt music network.
He changed his name to Sean Love Combs in 2021 (
BETNetworks /Youtube)
Andre was like a father figure to Diddy. During his acceptance speech, Diddy shared that Andre warned him he couldn’t just talk the talk when it came to his new name.
Diddy said: “When I changed my name to Love, he [Andre] said to me, ‘Don’t talk love, be love.'”
The mogul also created a brand with his new label. He named his youngest daughter, Love, who he shares with Dana Tran. He named his fifth studio album, The Love Album: Off the Grid, which was released in September 2023 and features artist like Justin Bieber, Summer Walker, Busta Rhymes, 21 Savage and more.
A year later, Diddy was arrested and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all allegations, pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
After his arrest, attorney Tony Buzbee said 120 people are planning to sue Diddy and that the individuals involved allege that the Bad Boy Records CEO exploited them and sexually abused them. The youngest accuser was aged just nine-years-old at the time of the alleged offense.
