Suge Knight claimed in a bombshell interview that disgraced mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and other music stars are victims of abuse, name-dropping powerful execs he says are behind the alleged misconduct.
The former Death Row Records CEO — who is serving 28 years behind bars for running over and killing a man — told News Nation Tuesday that his artists used to only smoke weed but allegedly got into heavier drugs once they were signed to other record labels.
“Those guys … they introduced cocaine to my artists,” Knight, 59, alleged to host Chris Cuomo in a phone call from prison.
“So once they got on cocaine, once they got on drugs, once they got on alcohol, then that’s when the weird stuff happened. I think that’s what took Puffy [Combs] down that lane.”
The convicted felon went on to allege that Clive Davis, Russell Simmons and Andre Harrell used “alcohol, drugs” to “compromise” Combs’ “manhood.”
“[Combs] was taught that. He got Usher as a kid … alcohol, drugs, sex. Justin Bieber — and see they do these things to take control. … You choose to be gay that’s your preference, but they’re doing this to people for control,” Knight further claimed in the interview.
Davis, Simmons and Harrell have never been charged with the allegations made by Knight. cannot independently confirm whether Knight’s claims are true.
A spokesperson for Davis emphatically denies the claims made about the legendary music producer, 92.
“This is a completely fabricated thread that is being trafficked by an incarcerated felon,” the rep tells exclusively Wednesday.
“Mr. Knight’s assertions about Clive Davis are 100 percent false as nothing of the sort ever happened.”
The spokesperson adds, “Clive is a mentor to artists and, in keeping with this, never ever condoned any such inappropriate behavior.”
Davis, who was the president of Columbia Records and spearheaded the careers of stars like Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Aerosmith, has never been accused or convicted of any sex crimes.
Yet he has proven to be loyal to Diddy. In January, after Combs was sued by ex Cassie Ventura for rape, Davis stood by the “Bad Boy for Life” rapper and did not disinvite him from his annual pre-Grammys bash.
“Puffy is perennially invited to the party. He’s always on the list,” a source told at the time.
also reached out to a rep for Simmons, as Knight also named him, but didn’t hear back.
The Def Jam Recordings co-founder, 66, has not spoken out about the allegations made against Combs.
He himself has faced controversy in the past, though, as multiple women have accused him of rape, leading the record executive to step away from his companies and retreat to a more private life in Bali.
Simmons has denied ever forcing himself on anyone, saying in 2020, “I could never say that someone doesn’t feel victimized, these stories are 25 to 40 years old.
“I can’t say that someone doesn’t feel victimized, I can tell you that I don’t feel I victimized them.”
Harrell, who mentored Combs, was never charged with sex crimes. He died from heart failure in 2020 at the age of 59. His estate could not immediately be reached.
also reached out to reps for Combs, Bieber and Usher for comment on whether there is any validity to Knight’s allegations but our requests were not immediately returned.
However, this is not the first time the latter two superstars have been dragged into the “Last Night” rapper’s scandal.
Earlier this year, a video surfaced of Combs calling out a teenaged Bieber, now 30, for not “hanging out” with him the way they “used to,” seemingly making the “Sorry” singer appear uncomfortable.
An insider, however, told People recently that while Bieber is “aware of Diddy’s arrest and all the allegations,” the “Baby” singer is “in a happy bubble” since his son, Jack, was born last month.
Past interviews that Usher, 45, has given have also surfaced, including one where he details living with Combs in his early teens and being exposed to a “pretty wild” and “crazy” lifestyle at a young age.
“I went there to see the lifestyle — and I saw it,” the “Yeah!” hitmaker said on “The Howard Stern Show” in 2016. “But I don’t know if I could indulge and even understand what I was looking at.”
Since Combs’ arrest, Usher sparked further confusion by claiming his X account was hacked when all his past tweets had mysteriously disappeared.
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Neither Combs, Usher nor Bieber have ever publicly accused the executives Knight named of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior.
Following a lengthy federal investigation that included raids on Diddy’s homes in Miami and LA, the “Coming Home” rapper was charged this month with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution charges.
Combs has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail while awaiting his trial.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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