Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who is currently behind bars awaiting trial, was with his late ex Kim Porter on and off for 13 years – and their relationship had some ‘dramatic’ moments
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who is currently facing charges of sex trafficking, had a tumultuous relationship with his late ex, Kim Porter.
Diddy, 54, struck up a relationship with model and actress Kim in 1994, with the pair going on to date on and off up until 2007. Following Kim’s tragic death at the age of just 47, Diddy referred to her as ‘more than a soulmate’, with the pair having weathered plenty of ups and downs during their time together.
A star in her own right, Kim appeared in films and TV shows such as The Brothers and Single Ladies. She was also one of the co-founders of Three Brown Girls, an Atlanta-based lifestyle planning company acclaimed Janelle Monáe credits with introducing her to early career contact.
Georgia-born Kim and Diddy welcomed three children during their rollercoaster relationship, Christian, now 26, and twins Jessie James and D’Lila, now 17. Diddy also played an active role in raising Quincy, now 33, Kim’s son from her previous relationship with singer-songwriter Al B. Sure!.
Although Diddy often publicly expressed love for Kim, their relationship had some rocky moments…
After one break-up in 1999, Diddy and Kim ended up battling it out in court over child support for Christian. During their time apart, Combs dated actress and singer Jennifer Lopez for two years before ultimately reconciling with Kim in 2003. Although their on-off relationship went on for years, marriage apparently wasn’t on Diddy’s mind.
Speaking with Essence in December 2006, Diddy admitted: “I know she deserves to get married, but I’m just not ready. It’s not a reflection on how much I love Kim. It’s that I’m just learning how to be a good boyfriend. When I’m finished with this step, I’ll move on to the next.”
The Mirror’s very own Head of Showbiz, Tom Bryant, caught a glimpse into Diddy and Kim’s relationship at this time during a night out in Paris back in 2007. While sipping champagne in the VIP section of a Parisian club, Tom noticed what he perceived as an unusual interaction between the couple, with Kim appearing unfazed as a woman was hoisted over by her boyfriend’s security and ‘plonked down by Diddy’s side where she proceeds to gyrate energetically next to him’.
Tom recalled: “I’ll never forget his partner Kim, who has since passed away, sitting by his side, and seemingly unperturbed by the X-rated scene unfolding before her.” That same year, Diddy and Kim parted ways for what would be the final time, with their break-up making headlines following allegations of Diddy’s infidelity.
In a statement made to fans at the time, Kim said: “In ending this relationship, I made a decision that was in the best interest of myself, Sean and our family. I look forward to moving on with my life and my career and wish him prosperity, health and happiness in life and in love. We will remain friends and committed parents to our children.”
Their split was a fiery one, with Kim reportedly even lobbing a TV at Diddy in a fit of rage. When asked about this heated incident by Essence, Kim clarified that it was ‘a small one’. She also told the publication why exactly she decided to wait for Diddy to leave town before packing her things and taking the kitchen table with her on the way out.
Kim explained: “I wanted to be dramatic. I wanted him to know I wasn’t breaking up with him for two weeks — or maybe leaving for two days. If I pack up everything — twins and all — it means I’m out! Puffy’s an action person, not a talk person. So, I had to have an action. Telling him, ‘Babe, I’m leaving’, was not gonna do it.”
In November 2018, Kimberly tragically died after suffering a cardiac arrest at her LA home. The coroner’s office confirmed she’d died from pneumonia. Paying tribute to Kimberly shortly after her death, via social media platform X – then known as Twitter – heartbroken Diddy shared: “For the last three days I’ve been trying to wake up out of this nightmare. But I haven’t. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you baby. I miss you so much. Today I’m going to pay tribute to you, I’m going to try and find the words to explain our unexplainable relationship.”
A year later, Diddy opened up about Kim’s death in an interview with ESSENCE, revealing the tragic final request she asked of him. Sharing that he’d spoken with Kim just a few days before her passing, Diddy told the publication that she’d been feeling unwell, and that her focus had been on their children.
Diddy remembered: “She had the flu, and she sent the kids over to my house so they wouldn’t get sick. One night I was checking on her, and she was like, ‘Puffy, take care of my babies’. She actually said that to me before she died.”
Diddy has now been ordered to be held without bail after being charged with sex trafficking. Manhattan federal Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky made the ruling following an almost two-hour-long hearing where prosecutors and Diddy’s lawyer argued as to whether the rapper should be jailed until he faces trial.
Judge Tarnofsky agreed with the argument put forward by the US Attorney’s office that Combs is a danger to the public and the potential witness in the case against him. This week, the musician pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, with his lawyers offering $50million (£38m) for bail and in-home detention.
According to allegations in a now unsealed document, Diddy ‘engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals’. This indictment details allegations dating to 2008, and includes claims that he abused, coerced and threatened women ‘to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct’. He has been accused of enticing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances referred to as ‘freak offs’, with Diddy and victims allegedly often receiving IV fluids to recover.
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