Bow Wow is coming under fire for saying he misses Sean “Diddy” Combs’ parties amid the embattled music mogul’s legal troubles and sexual assault allegations.
The “Let Me Hold You” rapper called Combs the “gatekeeper to the game” as he lamented the Bad Boy Records founder’s absence from the industry.
“Like, BET Award weekend, like the past two, it didn’t feel right,” Bow Wow said in an Oct. 10 appearance on the “More to the Story” podcast, referring to the BET Awards in June and the BET Hip Hop Awards last week.
“There was no motion, there was no parties,” he continued. “There was nowhere to go.”
Host Rocsi Diaz then interrupted Bow Wow to point out the difference between Combs’ star-studded parties and the illegal “freak-offs” he has been accused of orchestrating. (The Revolt founder has denied allegations of wrongdoing.)
“For the record, I left before 1 [a.m.]! I never stayed!” Diaz, 42, replied after Bow Wow clarified he was referencing industry events they have both attended in the past.
“I’ve only been to two parties and I’ve never seen a freak-off!” she added.
The “Like Mike” star, 37, further explained he feels like there’s a “hole” without Combs’ influence in the music industry.
“I said, ‘Jermaine, there’s no parties,’” Bow Wow recalled, as he mimicked being on the phone with record producer Jermaine Dupri, who’s also his longtime mentor.
“You feel it. It’s like a hole. He was everything hip hop! So for that to die out, you just would have never thought,” he added.
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As the episode circulated online, fans dragged the “Shortie Like Mine” rapper — born Shad Moss — for his tone-deaf remarks after Combs was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
“Can he read the room?” one person posted on X Sunday.
“Soooooo… nobody else but Diddy can host a party? I’m confused,” another X user wrote.
“Why would he say this?” a third wondered.
A fourth chimed in, “Considering current circumstances to be saying this is wild.”
Bow Wow’s podcast appearance was released on the same day Combs, 54, made his first appearance in Manhattan federal court.
The rapper-turned-mogul was supported by his family, including his mother, Janice Combs, and six of his seven children, who were photographed arriving together.
His trial date is set for May 5. He’s facing a minimum of 15 years behind bars, if convicted.