Will Smith has firmly dismissed rumors linking him to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ controversial “freak-offs”—gatherings that allegedly involved sexual misconduct and the use of sex workers. Although Smith usually avoids addressing gossip, he felt compelled to clarify this matter.
During a concert in San Diego on Friday, the actor and musician took a moment between songs to set the record straight.
“The world we live in now makes it hard to figure out what’s real and what’s not,” Smith said in a TikTok video later obtained by TMZ. “I’ve seen the memes y’all are sharing—some of them are funny, but let me be clear: I have nothing to do with Puffy. So y’all can stop with the memes.”
Smith explained that he usually ignores “dumb stuff” people say about him, but the persistence of these rumors made him decide to speak up.
“Y’all took it too far with those memes,” he said. “Look, I’ve got enough of my own mess to deal with. Don’t drag me into other people’s nonsense. I haven’t been near that man or involved in any of that stupidity. And just to be clear—those stories are lies. All lies. I don’t even like baby oil,” he joked, referencing the large quantities of baby oil and lubricant reportedly found during raids on Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Florida earlier this year.
Smith’s comments come on the heels of allegations involving Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. A lawsuit accused Carter of assaulting a 13-year-old girl at a 2000 house party, an incident in which Combs was also alleged to have been involved. The party reportedly took place following the MTV Video Music Awards.
In response to the lawsuit, Carter issued a lengthy statement, urging for criminal charges to be filed if the accusations held any truth. “These allegations are heinous, and if someone committed such a crime against a minor, they should be imprisoned,” Carter said. “The victims deserve real justice, not just a civil lawsuit.”
Recently, NBC News reported that Carter’s legal team was seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed due to inconsistencies in the allegations made by the accuser, identified as Jane Doe.
As for Smith, he made it clear that he wants no part of the drama surrounding Combs, humorously but firmly shutting down any speculation about his involvement.