Sean "Diddy" Combs, the rap mogul and music producer, is under renewed scrutiny following allegations of verbal abuse and predatory behavior made by former Danity Kane singer D. Woods. In a resurfaced video from the early 2000s, Combs is seen making derogatory comments about Woods' weight, an incident she described as part of a broader toxic work environment.
In an interview with Good Morning America on Sunday, D. Woods, whose real name is Wanita Denise Woodgett, recounted her time with Danity Kane, the girl group formed by Combs in 2005 on MTV's Making the Band. "I see myself standing in those dark, scary, predatory spaces, and hearing somebody say some of the most degrading things to me," Woods said.
The now-viral clip shows Combs asking Woods, "What's your stomach looking like? Are you feeling a little thick?" The comment has reignited conversations about his treatment of young female artists. "He did it in different ways with all of us," Woods said. "Picking and prodding, just a way to chip and knock away."
While Woods does not accuse Combs of physical assault, she alleges that he fostered a verbally abusive environment for aspiring musicians. "From the outside, he was this mogul - the guy who could make your dreams come true," she said. "But on the inside, it was a much darker reality."
D. Woods' revelations come amid a series of allegations against Combs, including lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct, gang rape, and abuse of minors at his infamous White Parties. Combs, who has strongly denied the accusations, remains in custody on federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering.
In response to the latest allegations, Combs' representatives criticized the timing and substance of a forthcoming documentary, The Fall of Diddy, which features Woods' testimony. His attorneys accused the producers of withholding evidence, stating, "This production is clearly intended to present a one-sided and prejudicial narrative."
D. Woods' former bandmate, Dawn Richard, has also filed a lawsuit against Combs, alleging he "terrorized and sexually abused" her during their time with Danity Kane. Richard's lawsuit claims that during the audition process for Making the Band, Combs called contestants "fat," "ugly," and other degrading names.
Combs' legal team has dismissed Richard's claims as "fabricated," arguing that her continued collaboration with him, including participating in a 2020 reboot of Making the Band and appearing on his 2022 Love Album, contradicts her allegations.
Danity Kane achieved historic success in the mid-2000s, becoming the first girl group to debut their first two albums at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. However, tensions with Combs eventually led to the group's disbandment in 2009, after he removed Woods and Aubrey O'Day from the lineup.
D. Woods, who has since pursued Broadway and solo music projects, said she is speaking out now because she feels the timing is right. "I feel like this moment now is a time when my truth will really be heard and considered," she said.
