Hulu is no longer making a reality show centered around Sean Combs and his family, Rolling Stone has learned, as even more companies sever business ties with the hip-hop mogul following accusations of sexual abuse and physical violence.
The project — which was under the working name Diddy+7 — was being produced by James Corden’s production company Fulwell 73 for Hulu. While Combs was reportedly spotted with camera crews several times earlier this year, the show was still in “nascent stages,” according to a source with knowledge of the situation. It’s unclear when the decision to shelve the entire project was made.
Other businesses are also fleeing Combs’ orbit, with five additional companies walking away from Empower Global, Combs’ online marketplace for Black-owned businesses. Artist Tammy Nekita Lembrick, founder of Nekita May Art Co., confirmed to Rolling Stone that she recently dissolved her relationship with the platform. “I have a daughter at FIT that I vowed to be a role model for in all things,” Lembrick said in a statement. “I pride myself on being a woman with great moral integrity and prefer my brand not be associated with that organization.”
It’s further fallout for Combs since R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed her now-settled lawsuit last month, alleging the Bad Boy Entertainment founder was controlling, physically abusive, and forced her to perform sexual acts with other men throughout their relationship. (Combs denied Ventura’s accusations and through his attorney claimed the settlement was not an admission of any wrongdoing.) Three other women have since come forward with sexual assault accusations, including a Jane Doe who claimed Combs and two other men “gang raped” her when she was 17 years old in 2003. Combs similarly denied their allegations, later saying in a statement that “enough is enough.”
Still, Combs’ once-glittering empire is beginning to tarnish. He stepped aside from his chairman role at Revolt, liquor company Diageo has asked a judge to prevent Combs from appearing on new advertising for DeLéon, and a total of 23 brands have now severed ties with Empower Global, which had only launched in July.
A majority of the brands said the decision was made in light of the accusations, with three companies saying they parted ways immediately after learning the news. “This decision was made on the day that Casandra Ventura filed her lawsuit,” Annette Njau, founder of luxury-bag, eyewear, and apparel company House of Takura, told Rolling Stone. “We take the allegations against Mr. Combs very seriously and find such behavior abhorrent and intolerable. We believe in victims’ rights, and support victims in speaking their truth, even against the most powerful of people.”
The dropped reality show is the latest blow for Combs. Earlier this year, Combs brought out some of his children while performing at the VMAs where he was receiving MTV’s Global Icon Award. Combs has seven children, son Justin Dior with stylist Misa Hylton; son Christian and twin daughters D’Lila and Jessie with the late model Kim Porter; daughter Chance with Sarah Chapman; and one-year-old daughter Love with model Dana Tran. The project was said to take after Keeping Up with the Karadashians, which is also produced by Fulwell 73 for Hulu. “It’s going to profile the entire family,” a source told Page Six in March. “They all have businesses — even the kids — and it will feature everyone.”