‘Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off’
Justin Bieber is reportedly so shaken by the accusations against rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs that “he has shut off.”
Combs, 54, has been in federal custody since his arrest Monday night at a Manhattan hotel after police charged him with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
According to a criminal indictment, Combs is accused of using his “power and prestige” to induce female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances dubbed “Freak Offs” that the rapper arranged, participated in and often recorded on video. The events would sometimes last days and Combs and victims would often receive IV fluids to recover, the indictment said.
“He used the embarrassing and sensitive recordings he made of the ‘Freak Offs’ as collateral against the victims, and the indictment alleges that he maintained control over the victims in several ways, including by giving them drugs, by giving and threatening to take away financial support or housing, by promising them career opportunities, by monitoring their whereabouts and even by dictating their physical appearance,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.
Prosecutors said that victims were left afraid for their safety and allege that Combs used firearms to threaten and intimidate participants.
With Combs stuck behind bars after U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter denied his request for bail, artists who have collaborated with the musical artist have been left reeling.
Bieber, who collaborated with Combs on last year’s Moments track from his The Love Album: Off The Grid, has been “thrown” by the allegations against the music superstar.
With his close ties to Diddy and some of the artists in his circle, the source says the charges against Combs have “completely thrown him.”
“Justin hasn’t been responding on this since the home raids. He’s not going to,” they add.
Some of the abuse claims mirror accusations Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura made against the three-time Grammy winner last fall.
The lawsuit was settled a day later, with Ventura saying: “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
Combs denied the allegations, but issued a statement that said: “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”
The video aired in May and showed Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching and kicking the Me & U singer who was his protege and longtime girlfriend at the time. The footage also showed Combs shoving and dragging Cassie, and throwing a vase in her direction.
According to the Associated Press, Ventura’s lawsuit alleged that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security video. CNN did not say how it obtained the video but noted that it verified the location comparing it to publicly available images of the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
After Cassie’s lawsuit was settled, Combs was hit with several more lawsuits filed in the following months, and was subjected to a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid his mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.
Back in May, a tearful Combs apologized for his behaviour, calling his actions “inexcusable.”
But according to prosecutors, when authorities raided Combs’ homes in California and Florida they uncovered drugs, videos and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. They said agents also seized guns and ammunition, including three AR-15s with missing serial numbers.
According to the Daily Mail’s insider, Bieber now regrets working with Combs last year.
“He was featured on Diddy’s most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it,” the source said.
Following the song’s release last October, Bieber reminisced about their long relationship in a message posted to his Instagram Story.
“I remember going to my brother Diddy’s office to pitch him a song I wrote for him when I was like 14, sadly the song was trash haha,” Bieber wrote.
After Combs gave him a “hard no” as a teenager, the two ended up collaborating on Moments last year.
“Fast forward to a few years ago Puff asked if I would freestyle something for his upcoming love album. Wild full circle moment, love you @diddy,” Bieber wrote.
“I told you guys I produced a song for DIDDY and I wanted to show it to him and you got his attention. Best fans in the world. Well this past weekend I spent 48 HRS with DIDDY and had some fun. Here is some of the action. Thanks for the car PUFF…haha,” Bieber wrote, describing himself as a “small town kid from Stratford ON.” At the time, Combs would have been 40 years old, while Bieber was just 15.
“Where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream,” Combs said in the video. “For the next 48 hours, he’s with me. And we’re gonna go full. Buck full crazy.”
— With files from the Associated Press