Former Vibe editor-in-chief Danyel Smith has accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of threatening her life over a 1997 cover dispute in a new first-person essay for The New York Times.
In her personal essay published in The New York Times Magazine on Friday, Smith recounts selecting Combs as the cover star for Vibe magazine’s December/January double issue in 1997. The photoshoot was inspired by the poster for the 1978 film Heaven Can Wait, featuring Combs in white angel wings. The cover was intended to have two versions—one with heavenly themes and another with hellish motifs.
Smith detailed how Combs, after the shoot, insisted on seeing the covers, which went against the magazine’s policy. When she refused, Smith alleged that Combs planned to visit the office to force a change if he disliked the selected cover.
Given Combs’ past legal troubles, including a 1996 conviction for threatening a photographer with a gun, Smith and her team prepared for his potential visit, implementing safety measures.
According to Smith, Combs eventually arrived at the office with security guards, inquiring about her whereabouts. Alerted by the receptionist, Smith was quickly shuttled from office to office and managed to escape in a taxi with the proofs of the covers.
The next day, Smith claimed Combs called the office and allegedly made a threatening remark. When she confronted him, Smith stated that Combs responded with a threat that she would be “dead in the trunk of a car.” Smith immediately demanded he retract the statement or face legal action. Following this, Combs reportedly faxed an apology.
Shortly afterward, the magazine’s servers were stolen, leading to speculation about possible involvement by individuals associated with Combs’ label, Bad Boy Entertainment.
Smith’s account comes amidst Diddy’s legal issues, including a sex trafficking investigation and sexual assault lawsuits.
