Sean “Diddy” Combs has sent a cease-and-desist letter to his former protégé, Shyne, in response to claims made in Shyne’s Hulu documentary, The Honorable Shyne. The letter addresses allegations that Shyne took the blame for Diddy in a 1999 shooting at Club New York—a case in which Shyne received a 10-year prison sentence while Diddy was acquitted.
As reported by Page Six, Diddy’s legal team is not trying to prevent the documentary’s release but is seeking to ensure factual accuracy.
In the film, Shyne, whose birth name is Moses Michael Levi Barrow, claims that Diddy abandoned him while living a luxurious life. Shyne recounts, “Everyone was celebrating with Diddy while I was left to rot in prison.”
The documentary also chronicles Shyne’s evolution from a musician under Bad Boy Entertainment to a respected political figure in Belize. Despite feeling betrayed, Shyne has said he forgives Diddy.
Speaking to Channel 5 Belize in September 2024, Shyne commented that Diddy effectively sent him to prison but stressed that he gains no satisfaction from Diddy’s recent legal problems.
Diddy’s team has firmly rejected Shyne’s accusations. A spokesperson stated that Diddy “categorically denies Mr. Barrow’s allegations” and refuted any claim that he manipulated Shyne or influenced witness testimonies. They reiterated that Diddy was acquitted of all charges related to the 1999 incident and has always maintained his innocence.
The documentary includes a curious story from Diddy’s former bodyguard, Gene Deal, who recalls an incident in Central Park before the trial’s verdict. Diddy allegedly met a man performing a ritual with a caged bird, which fell to the ground when released.
The documentary’s release coincides with a series of legal challenges facing Diddy. Currently, he is in custody in Brooklyn, facing federal charges that include racketeering and sex trafficking, part of a larger probe into alleged misconduct. In November 2023, Diddy settled a lawsuit filed by his former partner, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who accused him of sexual and physical abuse. This settlement has encouraged other similar claims.
Since being deported in 2009, Shyne has rebuilt his life, finding religion and becoming an Orthodox Jew. Now the Leader of the Opposition in Belize, he has reconciled with his father, a former Belizean prime minister. Despite the accusations in his documentary, Shyne has expressed appreciation for the lessons learned from his past struggles.
