White Party (Sean Combs)
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TheWhite Parties,also nicknamedFreak-OffsandDiddy Parties,were a series of parties given by the entertainer and businessmanSean Combs,also known as Diddy, P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, between 1998 and 2009. The parties were often held at Combs's house inEast Hampton, New York.The 2006 party was held inSaint Tropezin the south of France and the last party inBeverly Hillsin California. The White Parties typically began during the day and lasted until the early hours of the next day.[1]The parties were often sponsored by prominent brands who gave away merchandise and were attended by numerous celebrities includingJustin Bieber,Jennifer Lopez,Mariah Carey,andParis Hilton.BeyoncéandJay-Zeven released new music at these parties.[1][2]
The choice of the colorwhiteas part of a strictly enforceddress codewas intended by Combs to strip away people's image and put them on the same level and create "a certain pristine simplicity" according to theNew York Times.Combs has also once stated that the parties where a method of him to break down generational and racial barriers among people were described by the BBC as bringing together "East Hampton's old-money elite and the rising stars of hip hop".[1][3][2]
The aftermath of Combs'arrest and indictment on allegations of sexual misconductin late 2024 caused a reappraisal of the White Parties for the participants and staff.[1]Individual lawsuits have alleged that Combs sexually assaulted several individuals at his White Parties including a 16-year-old boy, a male bodyguard, and a female dancer over the course of several years.[4]
Notable parties
[edit]The first party was held onLabor Dayin 1998 at Combs's house on Hedges Banks Drive inEast Hampton, New York. [5][6][7]Paris Hiltondescribed the inaugural party as iconic and said that "everyone was there" and likened Combs toJay Gatsby.[5]The party had a strictdress codeof white clothing with 1,000 people on the guest list.Martha Stewartsaid that having all the guests dressed in white was a "stunning sight" and that Combs "looked very handsome in white".[5]Monique P. Yazigi wrote in an article inThe New York Timesthat 1998 would be remembered as the "Summer of Puff Daddy in the Hamptons".[8]
In 2004 the party was held at the 'PlayStation 2 Estate' inBridgehampton, New Yorkon 4 July in aid of Combs' Citizen Change, an organisation he established to increase minority voter participation in the2004 United States presidential election.[9]It was held in conjunction withSonyandPlayStation 2.[10]Combs arrived at the party carryingan original copyof theDeclaration of Independenceowned by the television producerNorman Lear.[10][11]Combs said that "No one would ever expect a young black man to be coming to a party with the Declaration of Independence, but I got it, and it's coming with me... And I promise not to spill champagne on it".[9]NPR wrote in 2024 that Combs's appearance with the Declaration of Independence marked a new level of fortune and braggadocio for the Combs.[4]He also promised make the 2004 election "the hottest, most sexiest thing ever".[9]Combs arrived at the party in two helicopters with his entourage and the cast members ofA Raisin in the Sunin which he was appearing on Broadway.[9]One helicopter was red, white and blue and the other was 'military green' decorated with the logos for Citizen Change and his fashion labelSean John.[9]Combs spoke to the 800 attendees to urge them to vote before a group of spoken word poets performed an interpretation of the Declaration of Independence.[9]Guests included Tyson Beckford, Elton Brand,Mary J. Blige,Aretha Franklin,Paris Hilton,LL Cool J,Betsey Johnson,Lennox Lewis,Lisa Ling,Denise Rich,andAl Sharpton.[9][12]
The 2006 White Party was held in at Nikki Beach, a club on the beach atSaint-Tropez,on theCote d'Azurin the south of France.[1]
In 2007 the party was held at Combs's house in East Hampton on 2 September and was titled 'The Real White Party'.[7]It was held in conjunction withCirocand reportedly cost $1 million with 300 guests in attendance.[13]Guests includedMariah Carey,Lil' Kim,Star Jones,Busta Rhymes,andRussell Simmons.[13]
The 2009 party was called "Malaria No More" and held in Beverly Hills, California in aid of an anti-malaria charity.[7]It was the last White Party staged by Combs.[5]The parties were ended as Combs was spending less time in The Hamptons. Representatives for Combs described the parties as "iconic, a true convergence of hip-hop, Hollywood and Black excellence... an endless stream of people vying to attend".[1]Guests includedRussell Brand,Mariah Carey,Estelle,Jonah Hill,Lil' Kim,Ashton KutcherandDemi Moore,andMarla Maplesand her daughterTiffany Trump.[1][14]Attractions included stilt walkers and dancers in giant plastic balloons.[1]Kutcher himself swung across a swimming pool on a giant swing.[1]Vanity Fairfelt that the highlight of the party was whenChris Brownwas spotted kissingAmber Rose,having earlier arrived at the party withTeyana Taylor.[15]
Reputation and significance
[edit]In 2024 Jesse McKinley and Sarah Maslin Nir wrote in theNew York Timesthat in the 2000s "few events held the cultural cachet" that the White Parties did and that Combs would be "invariably toasting the scene with a glass of Cîroc vodka, and welcoming comparisons of his revels to those of lore".[1]In a 2024 article for CNN, Lisa Respers France wrote that there had once been a time when an invite to the parties was one of the hottest summer tickets and that the parties were the peak of his cultural influence.[7]The parties saw a broad range of social and cultural elites socialising together as "veteran celebrities mixed with of-the-moment stars and the high-society set at gatherings that often had civic-minded causes" according to theNew York Times.[1]Vanity Fairfelt that the parties had "started to lose [their] fizzle" by 2009.[15]The writer Steven Gaines said that initially the residents of The Hampton thought "the first party was the end of the world... They were afraid of a noisy showbiz crowd and thought it was going to be an invasion, and it turned out not to be". Combs's neighbors in the Hamptons were pacified with limousine rides and complimentary meals at expensive restaurants to abate noise complaints.[1]
Sexual assault allegations
[edit]The aftermath of Combs'arrest and indictment on allegations of sexual misconductin late 2024 caused a reappraisal of the White Parties for the participants and staff.[1]A statement from Combs said that it was disappointing to "see the media and social commentators twist these cultural moments into something they were not... Shaming celebrities who attended, taking video clips and photos out of context, and trying to link these events to false allegations is simply untrue".[1]In 1999 Combs had said that "They don't want me to throw the parties no more... But we ain't going to stop. We gonna keep on having fun. Bringing people together from all walks of life" and that "You gonna hear about my parties... They gonna be shutting them down, they gonna probably be arresting me, doing all types of crazy things just because we want to have a good time".[7]
Individual lawsuits have alleged that Combs sexually assaulted several individuals at his White Parties including a 16-year-old boy, a male bodyguard, and a female dancer over the course of several years.[4]The jewellerJacob Arabovwas named alongside Combs by the dancer in her lawsuit.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijklmnMcKinley, Jesse; Maslin Nir, Sarah (29 September 2024)."Sean Combs's White Parties Were Edgy, A-List Affairs. Were They More?".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon 8 October 2024.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^ab"The parties that led to the downfall of Sean 'Diddy' Combs".
- ^"New lawsuits cast Sean 'Diddy' Combs's White Parties in a darker light".Washington Post.
- ^abcdMadden, Sidney; Pearce, Sheldon (29 February 2024)."A timeline of allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs".NPR News.Archived fromthe originalon 8 October 2024.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^abcdGardner, Chris; Weinberg, Lindsay (16 April 2018)."The Hamptons'" Modern-Day Gatsby ": Diddy's White Party Turns 20".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^Travis M. Andrews, Anne Branigin, Helena Andrews-Dyer, Samantha Chery (3 May 2024)."The dark side of Diddy's American Dream".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2024.Retrieved15 October2024.
{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^abcdeRespers France, Lisa (24 September 2024)."Sean Combs' lavish White Parties marked the peak of his cultural influence".CNN.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^Yazigi, Monique P. (5 June 2024)."A NIGHT OUT WITH: Puffy; Gettin' Jiggy Wit The Jet Set".The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2024.Retrieved16 October2024.
- ^abcdefg"P. Diddy does politics".The Tampa Bay Times.7 July 2004.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^ab"Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, Jay-Z and Paris Hilton Join PlayStation®2 to Celebrate 4th of July Weekend in Style".Sony website.Sony.Archivedfrom the original on 1 October 2024.Retrieved16 October2024.
- ^Ogunnaike, Lola (6 July 2024)."Politics and Partying Meet in the Hamptons".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 3 October 2024.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^Jet.Johnson Publishing Company. 26 July 2004. pp. 22–25.ISSN0021-5996.Retrieved2024-10-18.
- ^abJet.Johnson Publishing Company. 24 September 2007. p. 59.ISSN0021-5996.Retrieved2024-10-18.
- ^Gardner, Chris (6 July 2024)."The Hamptons' 'Modern-Day Gatsby': Diddy's White Party Turns 20".Billboard (magazine).Archived fromthe originalon 7 April 2024.Retrieved15 October2024.
- ^abMcKinley, Jesse; Maslin Nir, Sarah (29 September 2024)."The Biggest Fourth of July Party Was in London".Vanity Fair (magazine).Archived fromthe originalon 8 October 2024.Retrieved15 October2024.