Music

26 Mar 2024

Xscape, SWV Co-Headline 2024 The Queens of R&B Tour

Xscape and SWV have been announced as co-headliners for The Queens of R&B Tour. Produced by Monami Entertainment and Live Nation, the 30-city tour will launch June 27 with special guests MYA, 702 and Total.

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Monami Entertainment founder/CEO Mona Scott-Young tells Billboard, “Xscape and SWV are an indelible part of R&B music; their influence and reach are undeniable. These Queens of R&B have connected to the hearts and souls of fans and, along with 702, MYA and Total, will travel across the country this summer to give the fans what they have been asking for — an unforgettable co-headline experience!  From their hit television series to embarking on this tour, the journey for these ladies has not been easy but they are all a living testament to the power of resiliency and strength through perseverance. I am so proud to be part of this defining moment in R&B culture and so grateful for our partnership with Live Nation.”

After its first show in Concord, CA on June 27, The Queens of R&B Tour will also stop in Las Vegas, Houston, Washington, D.C. and New York before closing in Los Angeles on Aug. 18. The tour is represented by Seth Shomes through Day After Day Productions (DADP).

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A Citi presale begins on March 26; additional presales run through the week ahead of the general sale that starts March 29 (10 a.m. local time) via Ticketmaster.

Check out the dates for The Queens of R&B Tour below:

June 27 — Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord
June 29 — Las Vegas, NV @ Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
July 2 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
July 3 — Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
July 5 — Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
July 6 — Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
July 9 — North Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena
July 10 — Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at The BJCC
July 12 — Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place
July 13 — Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 14 — West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
July 16 — Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
July 17 — Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 19 — Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena*
July 20 — Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
July 21 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
July 24 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
July 25 — Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 26 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
July 27 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
August 2 — Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
August 3 — Syracuse, NY @ Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
August 4 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
August 6 — Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater
August 9 — Detroit, MI @ LIttle Caesar’s Arena
August 10 — Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center
August 11 — Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
August 13 — St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena
August 14 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
August 18 — Los Angeles @ Kia Forum

*without MYA

26 Mar 2024

Robert Plant, Eddie Vedder and Roger Daltrey Team Up on Who’s ‘Baba O’Riley’ At Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit

The Who singer Roger Daltrey celebrated his final performance as the curator of the annual Teenage Cancer Trust concerts after 24 years on Sunday night, ending his nearly quarter-century run with an epic, all-star performance of one of his band’s most beloved songs.

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The “Ovation” concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall ended with Daltrey singing the Who’s go-to show-closing 1971 epic “Baba O’Riley,” with the band’s frontman joined by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Robert Plant, Glen Hansard, the Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones and Who guitarist Pete Townshend’s brother Simon Townshend.

In fan-shot video, a spry Daltrey, 80, takes the lead, with Vedder, Plant, Jones, Hansard and Townshend leaning in to add group backing vocals; Pete Townshend performed with the Who earlier in the run and was slated to be on the “Ovation” lineup but had to miss Sunday’s show to be in New York for the opening of the revamped Tommy on Broadway.

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Though Daltrey is stepping down from his post, after the encore, he told the crowd, “I’m not going away from the Teenage Cancer Trust. I’ve completed the job I set out to do. We’re going to get curators to do a year rather than doing 20 years. Talk about nerve-racking. But I’ve got other work to do for the charity that is kind of more important because we live in a day where our NHS [National Health Service] everyone knows is very questionable even surviving. We are part of that service, though we are a charity… If the NHS goes down, I want to make sure this charity doesn’t go down with it.”

The final show also featured Weller inviting Daltrey out for a run through the Who’s 1966 song “So Sad About Us,” as well as Vedder performing PJ’s “Porch” and “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” and the Swell Season’s “Falling Slowly” with Hansard. In a poignant moment, Vedder also brought out his daughter, Olivia, to sing their song “My Father’s Daughter.”

In addition to his band Saving Grace’s traditional folk songs “Gospel Plow,” “And We Bid You Tonight” and “As I Roved Out,” Plant busted out one Led Zeppelin song, the Led Zeppelin III track “Friends.” Last week’s run of Cancer Trust shows also featured gigs by Noel Gallagher, Young Fathers and the Chemical Brothers.

Daltrey has hosted and curated the fundraising shows since 2000, raising more than $40 million to date, which the organization said has paid for more than a million hours of specialist care from TCT nurses, or 13 TCT hospital care units. The TCT said that it plans to work with a series of guest curators beginning next year. Over the years, the TCT shows have included sets from Paul McCartney, Wet Leg, Underworld, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher, Kasabian, Def Leppard, Pet Shop Boys, Olly Murs, Suede, Arctic Monkeys, New Order, Primal Scream, Noel Gallagher, Florence Welch, Joan Armatrading, Kaiser Chiefs, The Cure and many more.

See photos from Sunday night’s show below.

26 Mar 2024

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic Set for Philadelphia for First Time

Willie Nelson’s famed 4th of July Picnic is moving to the City of Brotherly Love for the first time. 

The concert, which he started in 1973, will be held at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, N.J., just outside Philadelphia, the birthplace of America.

In addition to Nelson, the lineup will include Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Maren Morris, Mavis Staples and Celisse.

“I am thrilled to bring the 4th of July Picnic to Philadelphia for the first time in our storied history,” Nelson said in a statement. “It’s an honor to host such an extraordinary lineup of talent in the birthplace of our country. We can’t wait to celebrate Independence Day with you.”

Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic

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Nelson, 91, first held the 4th of July Picnic more than 50 years ago in 1973 at Hurlbut Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas. Over the decades, artists on the bill have included Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, The Charlie Daniels Band, Rita Coolidge and Leon Russell. Last year’s event was held at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, and featured Tyler Childers, Dwight Yoakam, Shakey Graves and Sierra Ferrell, among others. Though this is the first stop in the Philly area, the picnic has been held outside Texas before, including at The Gorge in Quincy, Washington, in 2007 and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1978.

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Tickets go on sale to the public Friday (March 29) at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Citi cardmembers can access presale tickets from Tuesday (March 26) at 10 a.m. local time until Thursday (March 28) at 10 p.m. local time through the Citi Entertainment program. The event is presented by Blackbird Presents and Live Nation Entertainment.

The picnic comes during a particularly busy time for Nelson, who will release his new album The Border on May 31 and will, once again, headline his annual Outlaw Music Festival Tour, which kicks off June  21 in Alpharetta, Georgia, and features many of the same artists as will appear at the July 4 event.

26 Mar 2024

Charli XCX Plots 2024 International ‘BRAT’ Tour Dates

Charli XCX announced the international dates for her 2024 Brat tour on Monday (March 25), which will be a mix of live concerts and what she’s dubbed “partygirl” events. The run will kick off with a set at Primavera Sound Barcelona on June 1, followed by shows in London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City before winding down on June 22 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Just hours after announcing the dates, the singer noted on Instagram that all the shows were already sold out.

At press time Charli had not yet announced the release date for BRAT, her sixth full-length album, though she did recently reveal that it is out this summer, contains 15 songs and is 41:23 long. The follow-up to her 2022 album Crash has been advanced by the uptempo first single, “Von Dutch.”

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Speaking to Billboard at this year’s 2024 Women in Music event, Charli said that BRAT is a club record meant to evoke the illegal London rave scene of the early 2000s where she started performing as a 14 and 15-year-old, produced from a tight collection of sounds to create “this unique minimalism that is very loud and bold.”

She also said that the album is “very direct” eschewing “metaphor and flowery lyricism” for language that is closer to the way she talks to her friends in text messages. “This record is all the things I would talk about with my friends, said exactly how I would say them. It’s in ways very aggressive and confrontational, but also very conversational and personal,” she said. “And not in that boring way where artists are like, ‘This is my most personal record.’ To me, it feels like listening to a conversation with a friend.

See the Brat tour announcement and dates below.

BRAT tour dates:

June 1 — Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound Barcelona

June 7 — London, England @ Here at Outernet

June 11 — Queens, NY @ Knockdown Center

June 12 — Chicago, IL @ Radius

June 15 — Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall

June 19 — Mexico City, Mexico @ LooLoo Studio

June 22 — São Paulo, Brazil @ Zig Club

26 Mar 2024

Elbow ‘Audio Vertigo’ Makes Noise on Midweek U.K. Chart

Elbow turns up the volume with Audio Vertigo, the leader on the midweek U.K. chart.

Audio Vertigo is the Bury, England band’s 10th studio album. And if it holds its position, the collection will give Guy Garvey and Co. their fourth U.K. leader after 2014’s The Take Off And Landing Of Everything, 2017’s Little Fictions and 2019’s Giants Of All Sizes.

Based on sales and streaming data captured at the midweek point, the British alternative rock outfit holds off Future and Metro Boomin’s collaborative collection, We Don’t Trust You. It’s at No. 2 on the midweek chart, and should become Future’s fourth and Metro Boomin’s third U.K. top 10 album. Three tracks from it are aiming for top 20 debuts on the national singles survey.

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Veteran Scottish alt-rock act the Jesus and Mary Chain could snag a career-best with Glasgow Eyes. It’s forecast to complete an all-new top 3, at No. 3, for the group’s third top 10 title.

Following the release of a deluxe edition, Olivia Rodrigo’s former leader GUTS should spill into the top 10 once again. It’s up 15-4 on the chart blast. The LP, which originally logged a single week at No. 1 in 2023, should yield the week’s highest new Official Singles Chart entry, with “Obsessed” predicted to bow at No. 6. The “Spilled” version of GUTS includes five more songs, including a new cut, “So American”; the other four songs were the “secret” tracks that appeared on a variety of GUTS vinyl releases: “Obsessed,” “Scared of My Guitar,” “Stranger” and “Girl I’ve Always Been”.

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Finally, new titles from Starsailor (Where The Wild Things Grow), Fletcher (In Search Of The Antidote) and The Staves (All Now) are cruising for top 10 berths, while LPs from Waxahatchee (Tigers Blood at No. 12), a project led by Alabama-born singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield, and Gossip (Real Power at No. 18) could bag top 20 debuts.

All will be revealed when the Official Charts are published late Friday, March 29.

26 Mar 2024

Benson Boone Eyes Second Week at No. In U.K. With ‘Beautiful Things’

Another beautiful week is unfolding for Benson Boone in the U.K., where his global hit “Beautiful Things” (via Warner Records) is on track for a second week at No. 1.

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The Washington-born singer-songwriter’s breakthrough song has led both of Billboard’s Global singles tallies and, for the first time, lifted to No. 1 in the U.K. last week.

Based on early sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, “Beautiful Things” should nail another cycle at the top in the U.K.

Thanks to the release of the deluxe GUTS (spilled) edition, Olivia Rodrigo should bag the highest new entry with “Obsessed.” It’s new at No. 6 on the chart blast, and should give the U.S. pop phenomenon her 12th U.K. top 10 single.

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Rodrigo has set several U.K. chart records in her young career. When her debut album SOUR hit No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Chart in May 2021 in the same week her single “Good 4 U” led the national singles survey, she became, at 18 years and 3 months, the youngest solo artist to snag the U.K. chart double.

Along the way, SOUR set the U.K. mark record for the most first-week streams for a debut album, and, in June 2021, Rodrigo became the first female solo artist to land three simultaneous U.K. top 5 singles: “Good 4 U,” “Déjà vu” and “Traitor.” SOUR logged five total weeks at No. 1, and GUTS completed one week at the top.

Meanwhile, Future and Metro Boomin’s collaborative LP We Don’t Trust You should drop the maximum three tracks into the U.K. singles chart, all impacting the top 20. Based on early predictions, “Like That” is poised to enter at No. 7, “Type Shit” could start at No. 11 and the title track could bow at No. 14.

Finally, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier is targeting a No. 16 with his new song, “Too Sweet.” It’s on target for a No. 16 start.

All will be revealed when the Official Charts are published late Friday, March 29.

25 Mar 2024

Golden Globes to Air on CBS for Next 5 Years

The Golden Globes are set to air on CBS for the next five years, it was announced Monday (March 25).

The deal, which begins with the 2025 edition of the ceremony, will see the film and TV awards show air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+.

“CBS’ collaboration with the Globes for this year’s broadcast was a big win for both of us and established strong momentum for awards shows in 2024,” CBS CEO George Cheeks said in a statement. “The Globes is a one-of a-kind live event that adds another marquee special and valuable promotional platform to CBS’ annual calendar. I’m excited to expand the partnership with [chairman and CEO of Penske Media and Dick Clark Productions] Jay [Penske] and the entire team to continue to drive the Globes forward.”

Globes president Helen Hoehne added, “Today marks a significant milestone for the Globes as we solidify our partnership with CBS and Paramount+ for the next five years. We are incredibly proud of the audience we garnered in 2024 and look forward to building upon the immense success to make the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards the best and most memorable show yet.” 

The 2024 Golden Globes, which took place Jan. 7, saw Poor Things, Succession, Oppenheimer, The Bear and Beef among the night’s big winners.

“We’re so proud to continue to call CBS our home for the Golden Globes,” said Penske. “CBS stepped up for the Globes during a very challenging time, and inherently understood its value, while having the foresight, imagination and conviction to bring this iconic show to its many platforms. We’ve long admired CBS’ commitment to some of the greatest cultural live events and partnering for the long-term further cements this show’s legacy and incredible place in history.”

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The Golden Globes telecast was something of a hot potato prior to this new deal. After the old iteration of The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, then in charge of the awards show, became persona non grata with industry publicists over accusations of bribery and much-publicized reports about a lack of diversity within the group, longtime broadcaster NBC put the 2022 telecast on ice. A slightly revamped show aired on NBC in 2023, fulfilling its contract. CBS aired the show in 2024 as a one-off. And while the reviews for the show were abysmal — thanks in large part to the hosting job by Jo Koy — the ratings were up and the guest list was wildly impressive. The telecast neared 10 million multiplatform viewers, up 50 percent from its final NBC outing.

That seems to have been enough to seal the deal for CBS. There’s also slightly less baggage these days, now that operation isn’t run by the HFPA. The group fundamentally disbanded in 2023. Dick Clark Productions now owns and produces the Golden Globe Awards. DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.

25 Mar 2024

Dwayne Johnson Sings ‘Moana’ Hit for Toddler With Brain Disorder

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is using his powers as Maui for good.

The actor took to X (previously known as Twitter) on Sunday (March 24) to share a heartwarming video of himself singing his Hot 100 hit from Moana, “You’re Welcome,” to a toddler named Naomi who is currently hospitalized with a brain disorder. Johnson famously plays South Pacific demigod Maui in the popular Disney film.

“Join me in a song,” Johnson captioned the video. “Naomi is 2yrs old and fighting the fight in the hospital with a brain disorder. Her wish is for Maui to send her a video of him singing ‘You’re Welcome.’”

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He continued, “As we know, there’s a lot of noise and negativity out there, but I deeply believe that positive energy, light and mana can make a real difference in people’s lives – especially when it comes to our children who are struggling. Naomi I hope you smile with this song and Uncle Maui will sing ‘You’re Welcome’ anytime you need it. Thank you everyone watching this for sending your mana and positive light.”

The catchy track from the popular Disney film landed Johnson his first ever appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, launching in at No. 83. “What can I say except, ‘You’re welcome’/ For the tides, the sun, the sky/ Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay/ You’re welcome/ I’m just an ordinary demi-guy,” he sings in the fun hook.

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Watch the sweet Make-A-Wish moment below.

25 Mar 2024

Kat Graham to Play Diana Ross, Larenz Tate Set as Berry Gordy in Michael Jackson Biopic

The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic has found their “Dirty Diana.” On Monday (March 25), Lionsgate and Universal Pictures announced several new additions to the film‘s already star-studded cast, led by Vampire Diaries actress Kat Graham as Diana Ross and Love Jones actor Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy.

In the Vampire Diaries and other television shows, Graham boasts an extensive filmography, including a turn as Jada Pinkett Smith in Benny Boom‘s 2017 Tupac biopic All Eyez On Me. She has also released four studio albums — most recently, 2022’s Long Hot Summer — and made several appearances on the Billboard charts. In 2012, her Against the Wall EP debuted and peaked at No. 4 on Heatseekers Albums. At the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards, Graham announced her upcoming new single, “World Song” (with will.i.am).

Diana Ross, the music icon who Motown handpicked to official introduce the Jackson 5, remains an active figure in the entertainment industry. In 2021, the Grammy winner released Thank You, her 25th studio album, which earned her a Grammy nomination for best traditional pop vocal album — her first since 1983. Last year, she surprised Beyoncé with a medley of “Love Hangover” and “Happy Birthday” at the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer’s Renaissance World Tour show at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium (Sept. 4, 2023).

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Motown Records founder Berry Gordy — who helped transform the landscape of American music by introducing legendary actss such as The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight and the Pips — will be brought to life by Larenz Tate. The beloved actor currently stars on the Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost, a spin-off of the 50 Cent-produced Power, which Tate starred on for six seasons.

In 2021, Gordy received the highly prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, and the following year, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

The latest Michael casting annoucnement also trumpets Jessica Sula as Billboard charting-artist fifth Jackson sibling LaToya Jackson, Liv Symone as the iconic Billboard Hot 100-topping Gladys Knight, KeiLyn Durrel Jones as trusted MJ confidant Bill Bray and Kevin Shinick as the era-defining Dick Clark.

Kendrick Sampson, whose credits include Issa Rae’s Emmy-nominated Insecure, will star as famed Oscar and Grammy-winning producer and close MJ collaborator Quincy Jones. The new additions beef up an an already esteemed cast, including Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier and nine-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael.

Currently in production, Michael — which stars Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the titular role — is currently slated for worldwide release on April 18, 2025. Training Day director Antoine Fuqua will helm the picture, while Oscar nominee John Logan handles the script. Co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain are producing the film alongside Oscar winner Graham King, with on-set assistance from Prince Jackson, the late singer’s eldest son, on behalf of his siblings.

The casting news comes just days after Blanket Jackson, the “Thriller” singer’s youngest son, going up against his grandmother, Katherine Jackson. In court filings obtained by Billboard, Blanket argued that the superstar’s estate should not foot the ball for her current legal debacle concerning a deal over her song’s $600 million catalog.

25 Mar 2024

Diddy’s Miami & Los Angeles Homes Reportedly Raided by Federal Agents

A pair of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were reportedly raided by law enforcement on Monday (March 25).

Fox 11 reports that the raids were executed by Homeland Security “in connection” with an ongoing federal sex trafficking investigation.

Helicopters scoped out the chaotic scene in Holmby Hills. Fox added that the property was registered to Bad Boy Films under Diddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment entity along with one of the embattled mogul’s daughters.

With officers swarming the Los Angeles property, video footage appeared to show individuals being detained, two of whom appeared to be Diddy’s sons King Combs and Justin Combs. It’s unknown whether Diddy was at either home during the raids.

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TMZ reported on Monday that Homeland Security of New York launched the investigation and the Southern District of New York is handling the case linked to Diddy.

Billboard has reached out to Diddy’s reps for comment as well as the Los Angeles and Miami police departments.

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Diddy has been the subject of numerous sexual assault-related civil lawsuits. Ex-girlfriend Cassie lit the fuse in November 2023 with a lawsuit accusing Diddy of physical abuse, repeated sexual assault and trafficking while they were dating. The two parties agreed to settle the lawsuit less than 24 hours later.

Soon after, Combs was then sued by two other women who claimed they were sexually abused by the hip-hop mogul. 

On Dec. 6, a fourth woman sued Diddy, claiming she was “sex trafficked” and “gang raped” by Combs, former Bad Boy Records president Harve Pierre and another man in 2003 when she was 17 years old.

In the months since, Diddy has been accused of sexual assault in several sprawling complaints. The Bad Boy CEO has denied any wrongdoing and attempted to clear his name with a December post to social media.

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,” he wrote. “For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

A lawyer for Diddy vehemently denied the allegations against his client and referred to the accusations as “pure fiction.”

This is a developing story