They say the price of fame is steep, but what lengths would you go to in order to protect it? The world of hip-hop mogul Sean Combs has always been shrouded in mystery, luxury, and power. But what if it also includes something a bit more sinister? Well, Gene Deal, Diddy’s former bodyguard, has recently made some eye-opening claims that have turned more than a few heads.
Deal alleged that the hip-hop mogul, 55, participated in an animal sacrifice ritual in Central Park to avoid being convicted for the 1999 New York nightclub shooting, an incident for which rapper Shyne ended up serving time.
Let’s rewind to that fateful night. Combs, who was at the height of his fame, was involved in a shooting at Club New York. His then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, was also by his side, and the stakes were high. Meanwhile, rapper Shyne—whose real name is Jamal Michael Barrow—was sentenced to 10 years for his involvement in the shooting.
Did Diddy Turn to Dark Forces for a Legal Victory?
For years, the world has watched Sean Combs rise to unimaginable heights—building empires, dominating the music industry, and living the lavish life that many only dream of. But behind the fame, a shadow has lingered—one that’s now casting new, eerie questions on the events surrounding 1999’s shooting case.
Gene Deal, Diddy’s former bodyguard, has stepped into the spotlight with some shocking claims in the new Hulu documentary The Honorable Shyne (via Rolling Stone).
He’s alleging that before the verdict was read in the high-profile nightclub shooting case, in which Diddy and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were involved, the mogul took part in a bizarre and somewhat sinister ritual. According to Deal, this ritual, involving an animal sacrifice, took place in New York’s Central Park on the morning of the trial’s conclusion.
According to Deal, Combs had his driver take him to a meeting with a mysterious man in the park. “When Puff got close to the guy, he just dropped down to his knees,” Deal explained. From there, things took a strange and unsettling turn. Combs’ former bodyguard further alleged that the man, holding a Bible, began praying and instructing Diddy to perform a ritual.
Deal continued, describing the scene:
Next thing I see, is this smoke just going back and forth around Puff. I guess it was sage or something like that.
The man allegedly handed Combs a white bird in a cage. What happened next would leave anyone questioning reality. Deal said:
Puff took this white bird and threw it up in the air, and the bird just fell to the ground, boom, like it was a brick. I was like, ‘Oh, s–t!’ … The bird died, man … the bird didn’t even move. [Combs] just walked away from him real quick.
Hours after this alleged ritual, Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the 1999 nightclub shooting that left multiple people injured, including a woman who was shot in the face.
Also, while the allegations remain sensational and startling, there is no concrete proof to back up Deal’s claims. Diddy himself has not publicly addressed the specific ritual that Deal described.
Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow Accuses Diddy of Framing Him in 1999 Shooting
Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the shooting. In The Honorable Shyne (via Rolling Stone), he expresses frustration and disbelief that he was left to face the music alone while Sean Combs seemingly walked away untouched.
Barrow recalled:
Because when I said it [at the time], everyone was partying and having a great time with Diddy while I was left to rot in prison.
According to him, he was used as the “fall guy”, implying that there was a deliberate attempt to frame him for the shooting. In response, Diddy has refuted the allegation, providing a statement to Rolling Stone, stating:
These claims are unequivocally false.
With every claim and counterclaim, the truth about what really went down that night in 1999—and what went on behind the scenes—seems farther out of reach than ever before. In the meantime, Combs’ future hangs in the balance, with his trial for federal charges set to begin in May 2025.
The Honorable Shyne is available to stream on Hulu.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
