As Sean “Diddy” Combs’ alleged abuse becomes more fact than fiction with video evidence surfacing, five anonymous former employees have come forward. They reveal that his “erratic” behavior wasn’t limited to his romantic relationships.
Claims of Abuse by Combs and Intimidation
In an exclusive report from The Daily Beast, the former employees from Sean John and the defunct Blue Flame advertising agency shared their experiences. They reported that Diddy “grabbed, berated, and threatened them.” They chose to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution.
One female employee recounted a creative disagreement where Combs grabbed her face. “He didn’t like that I wasn’t agreeing with him, and he wasn’t interested in hearing my point of view,” she explained. Combs reportedly compared himself to Karl Lagerfeld, saying, “When you speak to me, you should imagine that you’re talking to Karl Lagerfeld.” While grabbing her face, he told her to “stick out your tongue” and squeezed harder. After this incident, she sought employment elsewhere, stating, “I just wasn’t interested in being there to deal with that kind of treatment.”
Another former employee described being fired for making eye contact with Combs. They shared, “There was erratic behavior, there was definitely what I would consider mental abuse, [with] how he spoke to us as employees.” This person worked nearly 16-hour days due to “Combs’ demands and the ‘culture of fear.’” They added, “He felt as though he should never be questioned and what he says is what it is.” This employee considered working for Combs the “worst experience” of their life.
“Catching a Brick” and Workplace Culture
A term coined by employees, “catching a brick,” described becoming Combs’ target unexpectedly. One employee explained, “It was as if you’re walking down the street and someone randomly threw a brick at your head out of the blue.” Another recalled being verbally attacked and surrounded by security guards while Combs screamed at them.
Female assistants often warned newcomers about Combs’ behavior, advising them to “just turn the other way.” One employee noted, “Everyone was kind of cautioned that, ‘Oh, he might say something weird or something off.’”
Despite the allegations, some employees had more positive experiences but still requested anonymity. One stated, “He lives up to everything […] You learn to understand what you are dealing with.”
While some former employees did not fully condemn Combs’ behavior, the majority expressed relief that the truth was coming to light, hoping he faces consequences for his actions.