Diddy has disputed Aubrey O’Day’s allegations that he attempted to buy the silence of various Bad Boy Records artists by giving them back their publishing rights.
The former Danity Kane singer was speaking to TMZ as part of their new Tubi documentary The Downfall of Diddy, which explores the sexual assault allegations against the label founder.
“I received the publishing deal, I know what it says, I know how much money it was giving me. I’ll tell you: $300.30. For a full release of all claims against Diddy and many other players,” O’Day said.
“I think he was making moves to keep as many people quiet as possible. When I went to look at the publishing deal, it said anything but I’m being made whole financially again. In fact, it asked me to not have access to my story and my experience anymore. It asked me specifically to stay silent and never speak poorly about a human.”
Diddy rejected O’Day’s version of events, with a rep telling TMZ: “Aubrey O’Day got her big break because Diddy and Bad Boy cast her in their show with her group, Danity Kane. Last year, when he reassigned his portion of the publishing to Bad Boy artists, an unprecedented move within the industry and which he did not have to do, not all artists signed an NDA, contrary to what she claims.”
In September last year, two months before Diddy was first accused of sexual assault by his ex-girlfriend Cassie, the music mogul announced he would be giving artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e and The LOX their publishing back.
It was also reported that Diddy turned down a nine figure sum for the rights to the Bad Boy publishing catalog.
Diddy later explained why he made the move, telling The Breakfast Club: “Two years ago I reassigned [the publishing] and then the lawyers had to work everything out. It’s not an easy thing. It’s called reassigned — I didn’t give nobody anything. The contracts is up so far. Business is business.”
He added: “You don’t have to make changes in the world, but if you have a chance to do the right thing, you do the right thing. That’s a world I want to live in. I want to be the change that I want.”
