He used to be his number-one inspiration. Justin Bieber is distancing himself from Diddy after the rapper was accused of sexual abuse. The disgraced rapper was taken into custody on Monday, September 16, 2024, after an investigation that began earlier this year.
When Justin Bieber started off his career, he cited Diddy to be one of his biggest influences. He even called out to the record executive mogul for a collaboration in 2009 when he was 15. Though a collab didn’t happen then, the two bonded after they were connected through Justin’s mentor Usher (Diddy used to be Usher’s mentor as well). The two hung out several times for over a decade and appeared to be close. However, with details of Diddy’s arrest, Justin seems to be appalled by his former friend.
Related: Inside Diddy’s ‘Freak-Off’ Sessions That Included 1,000 Bottles of Baby Oil
What happened with Diddy & Justin Bieber?
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November 2009: Justin Bieber hangs out with Diddy for 48 hours
Justin Bieber posted a video of him hanging out with Diddy for 48 hours on his YouTube channel. He was 15 years old at the time and Diddy “refused” to disclose what they were up to at the time.
“You ever seen the movie 48 Hrs? Right now [Justin is] having 48 hours with Diddy, him and his boy,” the rapper says in the video. “They’re having the times of their lives.”
“Where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream,” adds Combs.
Justin, who was signed to Usher’s label at the time, hung out with the rapper with his lavish Lamborghinis at his mansion. “I have been given custody of him,” Diddy continues. “You know, he’s signed to Usher, and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album. I did Usher’s first album. We’re gonna go full. Buck full crazy.”
When Diddy asked Justin what he wanted to do, the “Baby” singer responded, “Let’s just go get some girls.”
“Man after my heart,” Diddy replied. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
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2010: Diddy asks Justin Bieber why they don’t hang out often
In a resurfaced video, Justin Bieber hangs out with Diddy in a recording studio and the rapper grills him on why they don’t hang out often.
“What’s up man, you good? Selling out arenas and everything?” Diddy asked him. “Starting to act different, huh? You haven’t been calling me and hanging out the way we used to hang out.”
In the video, he makes the singer a member of the Dirty Money crew and shows him how to swag walk. “This is how you get the ladies,” Justin says. While showing the tutorial, Diddy says “This is how you push the haters back.”
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2011: Justin Bieber & Diddy open up about their friendship
Diddy and Justin Bieber made a joint appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “I think that we have become friends in a strange way,” Diddy told the talk show host. “He’s, to a lot of us, he’s like a little brother. He’s not afraid to call and ask for advice. He’s somebody that industry wise, the record industry is a strong family. He’s somebody that we definitely have our arms around and we wanna protect him because he’s genuinely such a nice person besides his talents.”
Kimmel then quipped that Diddy had bought his son a Bentley. “He got me a Lamborghini,” Justin responded. “I haven’t gotten it yet, though.”
Diddy clarified, “The Lamborghini for a day or two and he had access to the house. And he knows better than to be talking about the things that he does with big brother Puff on national television. Everything ain’t for everybody.”
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March 2015: Diddy gives Justin Bieber his first shot of alcohol
For Justin’s 21st birthday, Diddy gives Justin his “first shot ever.” They drink tequila shots together.
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March 2016: Diddy attends Justin Bieber’s Birthday
In a resurfaced video, Diddy gives Justin Bieber a Bad Boy Entertainment jacket on his 22nd birthday. The “Stay” singer appeared to be in a daze, but happy when the record executive gifted him the gift.
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April 2020: Justin Bieber wants to “protect” Billie Eilish
In a resurfaced interview with Zane Lowe, Justin Bieber talked about wanting to protect a-then 18-year-old Billie Eilish from the harms of the music industry. Many people interpreted it to be about his relationship with Diddy.
“It was hard for me being that young and being in the industry and not knowing where to turn, and everyone telling me they loved me, and turn their back on you in a second,” Bieber said.
“I just want to protect her,” he said through tears. “I don’t want her to go through anything I went through. I don’t wish that upon anybody.”
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2021: Diddy appears to be patting down Justin Bieber for a wire
In a friendly video between the two, Diddy and Justin embrace in a hug. However, beforehand Diddy appears to ask him something and the rapper suspiciously pats Justin’s chest down. When he’s in the clear, the two appear to hug each other more. Some netizens suspected that Diddy was checking for a wire.
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September 2023: Diddy features Justin Bieber in his new album
Diddy reveals that Justin Bieber is one of the artists featured on his album The Love Album: Off The Grid. He praised the Canadian singer saying he “has become one of the biggest superstars in the world! I met him when he was playing his guitar outside on the street. I’m honored to call him a dear friend and a brother. I never had the chance to work with him until now! God is the greatest!!”
Justin gushed over the collaboration with Diddy saying that it was “full circle moment” for him. “I remember going to my brother Diddy’s office to pitch him a song I wrote for him when I was like 14, sadly the song was trash haha,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “Fast forward to a few years ago Puff asked if I would freestyle something for his upcoming love album. Wild full circle moment, love you @diddy.”
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September 2024: Diddy is arrested
Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in New York on September 16, 2024, and charged with sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was refused bail.
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September 2024: Justin Bieber wants to “distance” himself from Diddy
Sources told Daily Mail that Justin regrets his collaboration with Diddy and refuses to talk about the arrest. “Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off,” the source said. So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him. Justin hasn’t been responding on this since the home raids. He’s not going to.”
They continued: “He had a long break from Diddy when he believes most of this took place and he had distanced himself from him. He was featured on Diddy’s most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it”
Another source told InTouchWeekly that Justin Bieber wants artists who have been in a “if they find themselves in a tough situation,” says the source. “He’s tried to be up-front about his demons and how he’s relied on therapy and his faith to get back on track. Still, it’s been hard to have all of this stuff being dredged up.”
“The Lamborghini for a day or two and he had access to the house,” Combs said. “And he knows better than to be talking about the things that he does with big brother Puff on national television. Everything ain’t for everybody.”
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October 9, 2024: Justin reacts via a source
On October 9, 2024, an insider told Us Weekly how Justin felt about the accusations against Diddy. “Justin has been advised to stay as far away as possible from anything and everything related to Diddy,” the source said. He’s “completely disgusted.”
“Justin is in a hard place mentally right now,” a second source said. “He has such a history with Diddy and the allegations against him have been hard to process.”
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December 28, 2024: Justin Bieber posts cryptic message
On December 28, 2024, Page Six reported that Justin Bieber posted about his faith amid Diddy’s upcoming trial. “How can I really believe Jesus is with me?” He posted and shared the following response: “Well for me Justin, its [sic] simply his goodness that keeps convincing me.”
“Every time I thought he wouldnt [sic] show up for me he always has, Im convinced hes [sic] the perfect patient presence that guides, directs and leads me all the days of my life providing, healing, restoring all that the enemy tried to destroy and steal.”
