Footage of Barack Obama laughing with Diddy has resurfaced on X, after the embattled rap mogul was arrested for sex trafficking.
The producer’s lawsuit has sent shockwaves through the political world, with the many smiling photos he took of powerful figures, including Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, returning to celebrities this week.
Obama and Diddy first met in 2004, when the music mogul was drumming up support for Democrats ahead of that year’s Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Diddy interviewed Obama for MTV, where he praised “Puff Daddy” for all the work he’s done to get more people out to vote.
Conservatives have brought exchanges between Barack Obama and Sean “Diddy” Combs back to light after the discredited rap mogul was arrested for sex trafficking, including a 2004 interview the discredited rap mogul had with the then-Senate candidate at the DNC (pictured)
During his MTV interview with Diddy, Obama praised ‘Puff Daddy for all the work he’s done’ to get the vote before the 2004 presidential election
As Diddy’s net worth rose to more than $700 million in the 2000s, he became one of the biggest celebrity supporters of the Democrats, using his platform to support the party during several election cycles.
In 2004, Diddy interviewed both Obama, then a candidate for the Senate in Illinois, and Hillary Clinton.
Footage of his brief interview with Obama circulated widely this week after Diddy was arrested on suspicion of a sex crime. Obama praised the rapper’s efforts, “because he doesn’t have to do this.”
“That’s one of the reasons we give back,” the young Obama said.
Their conversation seemed jovial, as Diddy joked about Obama sweating at the convention, saying he wanted to “apologize for not sweating” as Obama jokingly put a napkin over his head.
Diddy would continue to support Obama’s successful 2008 White House campaign, including organizing a “Last Chance for Change” rally for the then-presidential candidate in Florida days before the election.
Like Obama, conservatives jumped on an old tweet from Kamala Harris after Diddy’s arrest, in which she praised the disgraced rap mogul.
During their conversation, Obama and Diddy joke about “sweating” at the DNC, as the future president pats him on the head with a napkin
Following Diddy’s arrest, conservatives revived an old tweet from Kamala Harris, in which she praised Diddy for hosting a town hall meeting on racial inequality during her previous White House campaign in 2020
Diddy also supported Obama’s successful 2008 White House campaign, including hosting a “Last Chance for Change” rally for the then-candidate in Florida days before the election (pictured)
The message was sent during the vice president’s previous White House campaign in 2019, when she praised Diddy for hosting a rally on racial inequality for her campaign.
“The stakes are high for our communities right now and it is critical that we highlight how the coronavirus perpetuates racial inequality and health disparities,” the tweet said.
Some attempted to draw a connection between Harris’ past campaign activities and the accused sex trafficker, while others pointed out that Diddy’s former status as a hip-hop icon brought him into contact with many stars.
This included photos shared from a 2005 fundraising event that Donald Trump hosted at Mar-a-Lago for the Rush Philanthropic Foundation, where the former president was pictured with Diddy.
The photos of Diddy and Trump together came at a time when Trump was a registered Democrat and a major fundraiser for the party.
Diddy has notably been photographed with a number of celebrities, including Donald Trump – seen at a 2005 fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago for the Rush Philanthropic Foundation
As a hip-hop icon, Diddy’s arrest has led to a wealth of photos of him with famous faces (including Prince Harry) in the aftermath of his arrest
This came after Diddy, real name Sean Combs, was arrested in New York City on Monday night following a grand jury indictment.
Combs was arrested by Homeland Security officers at the Park Hyatt hotel in downtown Manhattan. A judge on Tuesday ordered him held without bail.
The allegations against Diddy revolve around so-called “freak off” sessions, where the rapper allegedly forced and drugged women into lengthy sex marathons.
Diddy was arrested about six months after federal authorities searched his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
Prosecutors said during those raids, agents found more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant believed to have been used in his infamous “freak-offs.”
Authorities said they interviewed more than 50 witnesses and acquaintances. The raids seized a trove of laptops, mobile phones and hard drives, among other items.
The Public Prosecution Service also claims that they are in possession of footage that appears to show that Diddy forced and manipulated victims into performing indecent acts.
Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo argued in court this week that his client does not deserve to be lumped in with other public figures accused of similar crimes, such as R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein.
Agnifilo said of the charges: “This is evidence, not of human trafficking, but of being caught in infidelity… He had a love affair with him for ten years, but also with dark periods.”
