BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MARCH 04: Rapper Sean Combs attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)
In the 90s, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs made his mark as a rapper and producer, but it was his fashion brand, Sean John, that made him an entrepreneur. Fast-forward to 2021, and Combs sued the brand for $60 million for continuing to use his name. Now, AllHipHop reports that he recently dropped the lawsuit.
According to Fox Business and GQ, Sean John started out as a “cubicle” at Bad Boy Records in 1998. Its first products were samples worn by celebs like Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes on tour. By 2021, the brand was participating in iconic fashion moments, such as New York Fashion Week. Two years later, it landed a reported $100 million investment.
Then, in 2004, Diddy became the first Black man to win in the menswear category of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards. Eighteen years later, in 2016, Sean John was racking in about $450 million in annual retail sales, per Women’s Wear Daily.
Fox Business reports that Diddy sold 90 percent of his stake in Sean John to Global Brands in 2016. Though the goal was to reach the millennial customer base, things went sour between the founder and the new owner in 2021.
That same year, he sued Global Brands for continuing to use his “Vote or Die” slogan. In his eyes, it was not only copyright infringement but also suggested he was still running Sean John. Additionally, he claimed the company was missing his image and personal without consent for marketing purposes.
That same year, the new owner filed for bankruptcy due to dropped sales from the COVID-19 pandemic. Combs didn’t waste any time and bought the company back after winning a $7.5 million bid.
AllHipHop reports that Diddy voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit after coming to an agreement with GBG Sean John LLC and GBG USA Inc. As of June 21, all claims and counterclaims have been dropped in New York City.
It’s unclear what’s next for the brand, especially given the back-to-back hits that Combs’ rep has taken since November 2023. At the time, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura accused him of graphic incidents of sexual assault, abuse, and trafficking in a bombshell lawsuit.
He settled within a day, still denying the claims. However, since then, several other women and a former male employee have sued the hip hop mogul for similar, disturbing acts.
Resurfaced hotel footage of him putting his hands on Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016 has given credibility to not only her claims but also the other pending lawsuits.
Macy’s, which Sean John partnered with in 2010, began phasing out the fashion brand last fall. Now, it’s nearly impossible to secure items from the iconic streetwear brand.
As for its founder, he recently stirred social media chatter after clearing his Instagram page of all posts, including his nameless apology about the hotel hallway assault.
