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Diddy doesn't consider himself the reason for the past incarceration of former Bad Boy Records artist Shyne.
On Monday (Nov. 18) is the premiere of Hulu documentary The Honorable Shyne about the Belizean politician, who was sentenced to ten years in prison after a 1999 New York City nightclub shooting, in which Sean 'Diddy' Combs was a suspect. With Diddy currently in jail and awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, there's renewed interest in Shyne, who claimed to have been the "fall guy" in the 1999 incident.
Shyne, born Moses Michael Levi Barrow, appeared on The Stephen A. Smith Show this week. Around the 10-minute mark of the video below, he claimed to have "forgave" Diddy, but added that the music mogul "destroyed" his life and once considered him "the devil."
"But because of the power of Diddy which is so loud as far as a pop culture icon nobody listened," Shyne said. "So I moved on and I pivoted my life to healing to forgiveness and to taking accountability for what I can control."
But via a rep, Diddy reportedly responded to Shyne's allegations of being a "sacrificial lamb," per TMZ.
"Mr. Combs categorically denies Mr. Barrow’s allegations, including any suggestion that he orchestrated Mr. Barrow to 'take the fall' or 'sacrificed' him by directing witnesses to testify against him. These claims are unequivocally false."
The rep continued, "Mr. Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the 1999 Club New York incident and has consistently maintained his innocence. He cannot accept or condone any characterization of his actions as 'demonic' or 'malicious.'"
"Mr. Combs appreciates the path Mr. Barrow has pursued and wishes him continued success. It is unfortunate that Mr. Barrow has chosen to revisit these allegations. Mr. Combs trusts that responsible journalism will weigh both the established legal outcomes and Mr. Combs’ positive, longstanding support for those he has worked with."
Shyne performed with Diddy as part of the rapper-producer's 2022 BET Awards Lifetime Achievement Award performance, also making a special appearance during Diddy and Giggs' One Night Only concert in London last November.
In May, Shyne denounced Diddy after 2016 footage surfaced of the Bad Boy Records owner assaulting his then-girlfriend, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura.
In an interview the month before, Shyne corroborated the 1999 shooting victim, Natania Reuben, who reiterated that Diddy allegedly shot her in the face.
“Everyone knew all along that I was the fall guy,” Shyne said. “But my political enemies and, you know, detractors try to make me into, you know, this criminal. But everyone knew that I was a young kid that took the fall. Everyone knew that, that was the story. I’m just saying that I maintained my innocence all this time.''
After serving nine years of prison, Shyne has become the Leader of the Opposition of Belize and leader of the Belize United Democratic Party.
English (US) ·