Sean “Diddy” Combs’ business partner, Kirk Burrowes, said working with Diddy was not easy. In the wake of allegations of sexual violence against Diddy, others have come forward to note that he did not foster a positive workspace. In 2003, Burrowes sued Diddy, alleging that he threatened him with violence in order to get him to give up his stake in Bad Boy Records.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ business partner filed a lawsuit against him
In 1992, Burrowes and Diddy founded Bad Boy Records together. Within a few years, Burrowes lost his job as president of the company. He alleged that he still had his shares, but Diddy forced him to sign them over. According to the lawsuit filed by Burrowes, Diddy used the threat of violence with a baseball bat to coerce him into signing over his 25% stake in Bad Boy (via Billboard). Burrowes said Diddy effectively cheated him out of $25 million.
“Kirk just wants Sean to realize the value he had in making Sean what he is today and to do the right thing,” John Bostany, Burrowes’ lawyer, said.
Diddy called the accusation “pure fantasy.” In 2006, an appeals court tossed out the lawsuit. Per UPI, the court ruled that the statute of limitations had expired on the alleged incident.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ business partner said Diddy looked out for his own self-interests
According to Burrowes, Diddy’s primary focus as the head of Bad Boy was his own interests. In 1997, after the Notorious B.I.G. died, Rolling Stone reached out to Bad Boy about putting one of their artists on the cover. Burrowes thought Biggie was the obvious choice, but Diddy disagreed. He had an album coming out and he wanted the cover for himself.
“I was telling Sean, ‘Let’s make it Biggie. You still have a chance [for a cover in the future],’” Burrowes later told Rolling Stone. “He’s like ‘No, he’s dead. I’m putting out [Diddy’s debut album, No Way Out] in July. I need to be on the cover of Rolling Stone.’”
Diddy appeared on the cover. He later admitted that he felt Biggie’s death helped with his album sales.
He faced another lawsuit for violence in 1999
Several years before Burrowes filed his lawsuit, Diddy landed in legal trouble for violence and intimidation. Diddy was in the 1999 music video for Nas’ song “Hate Me Now.” Diddy appeared in a Christ-like position on a cross but reportedly decided he no longer wanted that scene in the video. When he went to tell this to Interscope president Stoute, things turned violent.
“One minute I’m in the middle of a meeting, and the next minute I’m down on the floor and Puffy and his guys are kicking and pounding me,” Stoute told the LA Times. “One of them picks up a chair and throws it at me. Then Puffy throws my desk over and they just walk out like nothing happened.”
In this case, Diddy pled guilty to harassment and paid Stoute $500,000.
“If this kind of behavior is allowed to go unpenalized, it’ll be like an invitation for extortion in the music business,” Stoute said. “If somebody can get away with walking into the headquarters of the world’s biggest record company and beating up a senior executive over a disagreement, I guarantee you this is going to be a great business for criminals to thrive in.”
