Sean "Diddy" Combs, the embattled music mogul currently facing numerous legal troubles, is now under fire from comedian Ana Gasteyer for his alleged diva-like behavior during a 1998 appearance as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Gasteyer, a cast member on the iconic show from 1996 to 2002, described Combs as one of the "five a--holes" she encountered during her six-year tenure on the show.
Speaking on the "Las Culturistas" podcast, Gasteyer claimed that Combs demanded a "totally closed set" during his rehearsal, effectively shutting down the entire building. "He, of course, shut down the whole building," Gasteyer said. "You can tell the five a--holes in the six years that I was there when they would be like, 'So-and-so is in the building, everybody stay in your dressing rooms!'" She added that such measures were only reasonable for presidential candidates, saying, "Apart from that, it's really my house."
Gasteyer recounted an incident during Combs' rehearsal where fellow SNL cast member Will Ferrell humorously disrupted the session in character as Ron, his flamboyant "Mango" persona. According to Gasteyer, Ferrell marched onto the stage uninvited, creating a comedic and awkward moment. "I have the video from the control room where Sean Combs is rapping 'Come With Me,' and behind him, Ron is just walking around looking really disoriented," she shared. "It is the greatest thing that's ever happened."
Combs reportedly did not take the interruption well. Gasteyer noted, "He really did not roll with it. He was very uncomfortable." She also criticized Combs' perceived self-importance, saying, "Like, what's gonna happen? You're gonna walk into the studio and you're gonna be like, 'I'm in the studio. I work here.'"
Ferrell, who previously shared his perspective on the moment during a 2020 interview with Vulture, confirmed the spontaneity of his actions. "Someone said, 'Ron should go up onstage,' and before everyone turned to see, I had sprinted out the door," Ferrell recalled.
The resurfaced anecdotes about Combs' behavior come at a time when the Grammy-winning artist is facing significant legal challenges. In September, Combs was arrested following FBI raids on his Los Angeles and Miami homes. Additionally, his former partner Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit in November alleging rape and abuse, which has since prompted other individuals to come forward with similar accusations. Combs has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
While Combs' representatives have not commented on Gasteyer's claims, the mogul's public image has taken substantial hits amid ongoing legal scrutiny and allegations of misconduct.
