Will Smith has publicly denied any connection to the controversial allegations surrounding music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently facing federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Addressing the rumors during a performance at the Observatory North Park theater in San Diego on Thursday, Smith made it clear he had no involvement in the activities allegedly linked to Combs.
"I've been seeing y'all's memes and stuff ... Some of that stuff's funny. ... I haven't addressed any of this publicly, but I just wanna say this very clearly: I don't have s--- to do with Puffy, so y'all can stop all them memes. You can stop all of that bulls---." the 56-year-old actor said, according to video footage obtained by TMZ. "Y'all can stop all them memes. You can stop all that bulls-."
Combs, 55, was indicted earlier this year on charges of orchestrating "freak-off" parties, where coercion and abuse reportedly took place. Prosecutors allege that the events involved "elaborate and produced sex performances" and cited evidence, including over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, discovered during raids on Combs' properties in Los Angeles and Miami. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in federal custody in New York, awaiting a trial scheduled for May 2025.
Smith's comments addressed a flurry of online speculation and memes linking him to Combs' alleged activities. "I ain't been nowhere near that man, ain't did none of that stupid s-," Smith said. The actor further joked, "I don't even like baby oil," referencing the infamous items found during the federal investigation.
The allegations against Combs have created ripples across Hollywood, with several celebrities distancing themselves from the scandal. Combs' legal team has dismissed the accusations as meritless and has accused the media of fueling a "reckless circus." Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing over 120 alleged victims in separate civil suits against Combs, has hinted at revealing the involvement of other high-profile individuals. "The names will shock you," Buzbee said in an earlier press conference. However, no additional names have been formally implicated.
Smith, who has been photographed with Combs at industry events in the past, took a firm stance against the allegations linking him to the scandal. "So whenever y'all hear it, if somebody says that, it's a damn lie," Smith declared. He acknowledged the difficulty of navigating public perception in an era dominated by misinformation and viral speculation. "The world we're in right now, it's really hard for y'all to discern what's real and what's true," he said.
Combs' legal troubles stem from allegations that span decades, with prosecutors accusing him of coercing women into exploitative situations under the guise of his "freak-off" parties. His legal team continues to fight the charges, including filing motions to dismiss bail appeals as he remains in custody.
Smith's remarks come at a time when other celebrities, including Jamie Foxx, have also refuted rumors tying them to the scandal. In his recent Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..., Foxx addressed similar speculation, saying, "I left them parties early. I was out by 9. Something don't look right. It's slippery in here."
While Combs awaits his day in court, the case has become a flashpoint for debates around accountability and celebrity culture. For now, Smith has made it unequivocally clear that he has no connection to the allegations. " I usually don't respond to dumbass stuff because it's so many things. People say so much stuff. But that one - your memes was doin' too much," he said, "Y'all was having me mad."
