Diddy's Alleged Threats and Vibe Magazine's Stolen Servers: A Revealing Look into the Music Mogul's Controversial Past

In a personal essay for the New York Times, former Vibe Magazine editor-in-chief Danyel Smith made a startling claim about her past encounter with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. According to Smith, Combs allegedly threatened to see her "dead in the trunk of a car" after a heated disagreement over his December 1997/January 1998 cover treatment.

Uncovering the Tension Between Diddy and Vibe Magazine

Diddy's Demand for Cover Approval

Danyel Smith, the former editor-in-chief of Vibe Magazine, recounted a tense exchange with Sean "Diddy" Combs over the cover of the magazine's December 1997/January 1998 issue. According to Smith, Combs wanted to see the Vibe covers before they went to press, which was against the magazine's policy. When Smith refused to show him the cover, she claimed that Combs threatened to come to the Vibe office and force them to show him the chosen cover, demanding they choose something else if he didn't like it.

The Alleged Threat and Aftermath

Smith said that when Combs called the Vibe office shortly after, he told her "that he would see me 'dead in the trunk of a car.'" Shocked by the threat, Smith immediately told Combs to take back the statement. However, Combs allegedly responded with a "vile laugh" and said, "'[Expletive] you.'" Smith then revealed that Combs followed up by saying, "I know where you are right now. Right on Lexington."Fearing for her safety, Smith reached out to her attorney and threatened legal action. Surprisingly, Combs quickly faxed over an apology to Smith, seemingly backtracking on his previous threats.

The Mysterious Theft of Vibe's Servers

Adding to the drama, Smith disclosed that not long after her argument with Combs, the Vibe office was the victim of a server theft. Interestingly, the completed issue of the magazine was saved on one of the stolen servers, leading Smith to suspect that Combs' label was behind the theft, potentially in an effort to prevent the publication from going to press.Fortunately, Vibe's art director had a backup of the issue on a disk, allowing the magazine to salvage the cover and publish the December 1997/January 1998 edition as planned.

Diddy's Ongoing Legal Troubles

Smith's account of her encounter with Combs comes at a time when the music mogul is facing a series of legal challenges. Combs is currently embroiled in several lawsuits, with nearly eight different parties accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. The latest lawsuit was filed by model Adria English, who claims Combs "groomed" her into sex trafficking.This revelation from Danyel Smith provides a glimpse into Diddy's controversial past and the tensions that have surrounded him throughout his career. As the music industry continues to grapple with issues of power dynamics and accountability, this story serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and the need for a deeper examination of the actions of those in positions of influence.