‘We Live In A World…’: Former Bad Boy Rapper Shyne Breaks Silence on Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Controversy
Photo by Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer/GC Images and Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Former Bad Boy rapper Moses “Shyne” Barrow has spoken out about Sean “Diddy” Combs and the allegations surrounding him, offering prayers for both Combs and his victims. Barrow, 46, addressed the situation while speaking with the press at the premiere of his Hulu documentary The Honorable Shyne.
The conversation shifted to Combs, 55, who has faced increased scrutiny following a recently surfaced video of him assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway. “First and foremost, you pray for the victims,” Barrow told People Magazine.
“People like Cassie [Ventura] and whoever else is alleged.” He emphasized the importance of fairness in the judicial process, adding, “We live in a world, in democracies at least, where the rule of law is tantamount. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. I pray for justice, I pray for the victims. I pray for Diddy.”
Barrow, now the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives, has a long history with Combs. He spent eight years in prison following a 1999 New York City club shooting, a case that also implicated Combs. While Barrow was sentenced to 10 years in 2001 and later deported to Belize upon his release in 2009, Combs was acquitted after claiming self-defense.
Despite their past, Barrow made it clear that he holds no resentment toward Combs. “I hope he can figure out what he needs to do to get through this very challenging time in his life, and that’s something for him to deal with,” Barrow said. “I wish everyone well. I’m at a place where I don’t need anyone to fail or suffer for me to have pleasure or success.”
Barrow extended his sympathies specifically to Ventura, who filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2023, alleging a “cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking” over a decade. The lawsuit was settled, but the video’s release has reignited public outrage.
“Cassie has been through some horrendous experiences, and there are other people claiming the same thing. I pray for everyone involved, especially the alleged victims,” Barrow reiterated.
Barrow’s journey, revisited in his documentary directed by Marcus A. Clarke, explores his rise in the music industry, the fallout from the shooting, and his return to Belize, where he transitioned into a successful career in politics. His measured response reflects his focus on growth and reconciliation, both for himself and those entangled in the current controversy.
