At Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lavish and infamous parties, there’s reportedly a well-known signal indicating it’s time for certain guests to leave—just as the atmosphere shifts. Insiders describe the magic moment when the mood shifts between 2 and 3 a.m. when the women start taking off their clothes. This little but highly controversial signal acts (women start taking off their clothes.) as the cue for high-profile guests who might not want to participate in the ensuing risqué activities, hinting that it is time for them to make a discreet exit.
The notorious parties thrown by Diddy, true to form, are over-the-top and replete with A-list celebrities. Mired from the start in controversy over the years, new allegations surface about the dark underbelly of these gatherings. And so, as allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and drug-fueled impropriety arise, this signal-caller at the center of it all took on even more meaning.
However, according to guests, the tone of the party changes drastically as the night progresses. The “signal” for a shift, at around 2 or 3 a.m., is that the women start to strip; insiders agree that this shows guests not interested in the after-hours activity a way out of the club.
When you saw that happening, you knew it was time to go,” said one partygoer, who wished to remain anonymous, adding that this was a way for high-profile individuals to save face while quietly exiting before the night got more out of hand.
By the am, Diddy’s parties are truly high-society glam. People who have been there say it’s the most exclusive atmosphere imaginable, replete with gourmet food, top-of-the-line drinks, and electric performances by the world’s biggest stars.
Photographer Selma Fonseca also revealed how Diddy managed the presence of children at his parties. According to her, there was a clear system in place to ensure the kids were taken care of before the party transitioned into more adult territory. “Diddy would give them a warning,” Fonseca explained, “He’d announce that the kids had an hour left to enjoy the festivities before the party got more intense.” These events have been frequented by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Paris Hilton, and Mariah Carey, who want to be enveloped in the evenings of overindulgence and lavishness.
As explained by Fonseca, this was a practice serving as some buffer between the family-friendly portions of the night and the risqué activities that follow thereafter.
“The kids would be there for the earlier part of the night, enjoying themselves with the music and the food. But at a particular time, there was always an agreement that it was time to leave,”
she said.
While these parties were extravagant, bordering on excess, according to Fonseca, Diddy was good at drawing a boundary between the two. In the past months, Diddy’s infamous parties have drawn even more intense scrutiny as he embarks on a spate of legal battles.
More than 100 people have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct, which single out sex trafficking and exploitation of sex workers. Though Diddy has denied the charges, the increased legal scrutiny landed on him has upped the ante on questions about the behavior and culture at his parties.
Critics say these elaborately choreographed transitions between the glamorous parts of the party and the raunchy after-hours scenes reflect a deeper problem-reports have come in, indicating drug use at the very least and sometimes coercion and exploitation at those parties. Some guests stayed till as late as 7 a.m., while a select few participating in activities that crossed into illegal territory.
It is these long-circulating rumors that he is accused of now. Not all guests, however, look at it the same. Many in attendance, including Fonseca-who has been to at least 20 to 30 of Diddy’s parties, another picture of the parties altogether.
“It’s easy to judge these parties from the outside,”
she added.
“But they were also spaces for incredible music, unforgettable moments, and a lot of joy.”
