Donnell Rawlings is looking back on his own experience at a Diddy party following the Bad Boy Records’ recent arrest and indictment accusing him of trafficking and racketeering.
During an appearance on The Breakfast Club this week, the comedian and Chappelle’s Show alum was asked about a photo showing him with Diddy, Dave Chappelle, French Montana, and more on a yacht. According to Rawlings, who opened Tuesday’s episode by handing out bottles of baby oil to the hosts as a nod to Diddy’s case, the photo was taken during “a day party” years ago. Specifically, the event was an annual holiday-focused get-together, per Rawlings.
“Let me explain,” he said. “That was a day party. I got the history behind that. That was a day party. And first off, it’s a very interesting situation to even bring this up, right? And I will tell y’all, and everybody knows, and I know I’ll be criticized for this and you know, [but] Diddy throws some of the best parties you’ll ever go to in your life.”
Deeper into the interview, Rawlings said that the photo in question was taken “some years ago” in the Saint Martin area.
“You got this party, you got that party. And that party was a great party,” Rawlings added. “My son was on that yacht with me. We had a great time. So I understand like now if you say you went to any party, [people] will assume it was the ‘freak off.’ That wasn’t the case. And we had a good time.”
From there, Rawlings joked about his choice of beverage at the get-together, like so: “I don’t know what was in that vodka because it felt like I had a whole full head of hair on that yacht. I don’t know. There was something special in that vodka. I felt light-skinned for a second.”
Later, Rawlings, who’s currently set to be on the road through January of next year, enjoyed some more back-and-forth with Charlamagne Tha God and company about the photo pose. Rawlings then shifted back to his original point, noting that he’s “not gonna say ‘Free Diddy’ or anything” but did indeed have “a good time” on the yacht.
Following Diddy’s arrest in September, more details were made public regarding the case prosecutors have against him. More salacious elements of the case, namely the alleged seizure of over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, not to mention what prosecutors have taken to calling “Freak Offs,” have received heightened attention in recent weeks.
An indictment reveals the actual charges against Diddy include racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty, with an attorney saying in a previous statement that he is an “innocent man” who “looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
As of this writing, Diddy, previously seen in resurfaced hotel surveillance footage physically assaulting then-partner Cassie, has seen his bail efforts denied.