Introduction to the Media Circus
At the beginning of this week, a media frenzy unfolded outside the Federal Court of Manhattan, located at 500 Pearl Street. This spectacle involved a scrum of reporters, vloggers, and at least one event that drew significant attention.
The "Free Puff" T-Shirt Emerges
The "Free Puff" t-shirt first appeared when jury selection began on May 5, catching the attention of Charlucci Finney, a long-time best friend of Combs. Apart from Finney, groups of supporters of Combs gathered outside the court building, showing their solidarity as his team of lawyers fought against the Feds in a sex trafficking and extortion case. The group’s pop-up support for the accused was notable in the crowd.
Investigating the Sudden Support
Journalist and podcaster Emilie Hagen, known for being in the know, decided to investigate the sudden display of support. She wanted to find out if this was a kind of paid protest, genuine support for the embattled rapper, or something entirely different. According to Hagen’s reporting, it seemed to be a bit of everything. After speaking with some of the demonstrators wearing the t-shirts, she discovered that this could have been a paid protest or paid support that may not have stemmed from genuine support for Combs.
Paid Protest Allegations
In a clip posted on TikTok, a woman told Hagen that she was approached by someone who offered her $20 an hour to wear a "Free Diddy" t-shirt outside the court building while the trial unfolded inside. The woman claimed she was told it was for a "Diddy coin," but she wasn’t sure what that meant. Despite the lady’s attempts to convince her to wear the shirt, the woman declined.
Reaction from 50 Cent
The video quickly went viral and caught the attention of 50 Cent, Combs’ rap world rival, who never misses an opportunity to take a shot at his nemesis. In a humorous Instagram post, 50 Cent joked, "Diddy paying people to wear Free Diddy shirts is devilish. But $20 an hour isn’t bad. I could wear it for an hour tomorrow."
Ethical Questions Raised
The suggestion that the t-shirt handout and alleged paid protest are connected to the $Diddy coin raises ethical questions about the organizers of the demonstration. The $Diddy coin is a memecoin launched on the Solana blockchain, with Combs’ sons Justin and King Combs behind it. The coin’s website states that it is "fueled by memes, drama, and raw internet humor, chaos, and collective creativity."
The $Diddy Coin Controversy
The $Diddy cryptocurrency was introduced just a few days after the jury selection began, seemingly attempting to capitalize on the controversy surrounding Combs’ trial. Since its introduction, it has been promoted by Combs and his friend Kanye West online, which has at least temporarily driven up its price. As of Tuesday, the live $Diddy price was $0.0000001613, with a 24-hour trading volume of $594.74.
Seeking Comment from Combs Global
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Combs Global to ask about Combs’ involvement in the t-shirt handout and to comment on the allegations of sponsored protests outside the court but did not receive an immediate response.
