Brian Buckmeyer

If I was to ask you to finish this sentence, how would you finish it? Sean Puffycombe's legacy is... Sean Puffycombe's legacy is... Finished. Combs' legacy might not be the really important thing here, especially compared to the harm his alleged victim suffered. But the fallout from the allegations against him have had ripple effects.

If I was to ask you to finish this sentence, how would you finish it? Sean Puffycombe's legacy is... Sean Puffycombe's legacy is... Finished. Combs' legacy might not be the really important thing here, especially compared to the harm his alleged victim suffered. But the fallout from the allegations against him have had ripple effects.

LaJoyce Brookshire says she used to think of Puffy as a creative genius. She used to be proud of the work she did with him, whenever she caught a glimpse of him performing or getting an award. Wow, we did that.

LaJoyce Brookshire says she used to think of Puffy as a creative genius. She used to be proud of the work she did with him, whenever she caught a glimpse of him performing or getting an award. Wow, we did that.

She reminded me of how back in the day, people thought hip-hop was just a passing fad, nothing bankable or worthy. Decades later, the music, the culture, it's still a phenomenon. She was part of building that foundation, along with so many other people. She says this is the legacy that's been tarnished.

She reminded me of how back in the day, people thought hip-hop was just a passing fad, nothing bankable or worthy. Decades later, the music, the culture, it's still a phenomenon. She was part of building that foundation, along with so many other people. She says this is the legacy that's been tarnished.

We started this series with a portrait of Sean Combs as the ultimate host. He staged elaborate, over-the-top parties everyone wanted to go to. He was the hitmaker, the kingmaker that everyone wanted to be near. Back in early November, Diddy celebrated his 55th birthday with a very different kind of party. This was not a lavish, star-studded affair. Diddy was on a speakerphone from jail.

We started this series with a portrait of Sean Combs as the ultimate host. He staged elaborate, over-the-top parties everyone wanted to go to. He was the hitmaker, the kingmaker that everyone wanted to be near. Back in early November, Diddy celebrated his 55th birthday with a very different kind of party. This was not a lavish, star-studded affair. Diddy was on a speakerphone from jail.

His kids gathered to sing him happy birthday, including his youngest, a two-year-old named Love.

His kids gathered to sing him happy birthday, including his youngest, a two-year-old named Love.

This moment has been memorialized on Diddy's Instagram. It's just one of a handful of posts you can still find in his feed. His kids reposted it too. The comments are a mix of free Diddy and send him to jail for life. The Bare Bones Party has all the trappings of a staged moment, at least according to prosecutors.

This moment has been memorialized on Diddy's Instagram. It's just one of a handful of posts you can still find in his feed. His kids reposted it too. The comments are a mix of free Diddy and send him to jail for life. The Bare Bones Party has all the trappings of a staged moment, at least according to prosecutors.

In court documents arguing against bail, they allege this video is actually part of a campaign Diddy planned around his birthday to influence potential jurors, and that Diddy monitored how this post was performing on social media from jail. However you interpret this video,

In court documents arguing against bail, they allege this video is actually part of a campaign Diddy planned around his birthday to influence potential jurors, and that Diddy monitored how this post was performing on social media from jail. However you interpret this video,

Whether you see it as simply a small family gathering or a carefully curated PR stunt, there's no denying how different Diddy's reality is today from the freedom, luxury, and power that defined him for so long. This is how it will be until his trial, until a jury decides to send him to prison or set him free. Next time on Bad Rap, the case against Diddy.

Whether you see it as simply a small family gathering or a carefully curated PR stunt, there's no denying how different Diddy's reality is today from the freedom, luxury, and power that defined him for so long. This is how it will be until his trial, until a jury decides to send him to prison or set him free. Next time on Bad Rap, the case against Diddy.

We'll game out strategies the prosecution and defense might use at Diddy's upcoming trial with a reporter who's been covering this case from the beginning.

We'll game out strategies the prosecution and defense might use at Diddy's upcoming trial with a reporter who's been covering this case from the beginning.

That's next time on Bad Rap, the case against Diddy. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE. Or go to rainn.org. If you like this podcast, please share it and give it a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Thanks for listening. Bad Route, The Case Against Diddy is a production of ABC Audio. I'm Brian Buckmeyer.

That's next time on Bad Rap, the case against Diddy. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE. Or go to rainn.org. If you like this podcast, please share it and give it a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Thanks for listening. Bad Route, The Case Against Diddy is a production of ABC Audio. I'm Brian Buckmeyer.