In celebrity culture, privacy can often be considered a luxury. Now, Sean “Diddy” Combs is taking that to an extremely new level with his infamous ‘Freak-Off’ parties. Recent revelations about an ironclad nondisclosure agreement show the extent to which Diddy goes in attempts to keep hidden the secrets of his exclusive gatherings. This NDA not only restricts what can be said by guests but extends even beyond Diddy’s lifetime-a very raising-of-the-eyebrows and sparkingconversation move about privacy in Hollywood.
TMZ has just obtained a copy of the NDA that guests are required to sign before they can attend Diddy’s infamous parties, and let’s just say it’s pretty comprehensive. The contract prohibits guests from revealing anything about Diddy, his family, or what goes on at the events. This means no photos, no videos, and no book-writing or interviews regarding the events that occur at such parties.
What’s most amazing about this NDA, however, is its duration-it purportedly extends either to the life of Diddy plus an additional 20 years or a total of 70 years, whichever is longer. This means that the silence on his private life will be kept far beyond when he’s gone, defying the level of privacy he demands.
Diddy’s NDA speaks to a broader trend in celebrity culture: secrecy at all costs. Lawyers term the thing “alarmingly broad and intimidating,” begging questions of private privacy versus public interest. In today’s world, where social media can make a private moment a public spectacle, such measures are more usually taken among high-profile individuals.
This NDA has come in light of serious legal troubles he faces in court, including sex trafficking and racketeering. The allegations strengthened questions over privacy that he had undertaken. The NDA has even been referenced in a $30 million sexual harassment lawsuit involving one of Diddy’s former producers, and that shows how powerful it is concerning the cases brought against him.
Public reactions to the NDA have fallen on different sides: to some, it is a standard practice meant to protect personal privacy, while to others, it looks more like an attempt to silence potential witnesses and victims. The controversy further complicates the already multi-layered narrative about Diddy and his parties.
Diddy’s “Freak-Off” parties have been notoriously known for their illegal activities. Characterized by rampant drug use and sex, the parties reportedly involve Diddy providing drugs to women attending his parties, as well as to the male sex workers. Today, such parties seem to be at the center of many legal investigations into continuing allegations, with disturbing accounts from atop attendees detailing how stupid they have gotten.
It has also been claimed that Diddy had very specific requirements as to the type of females attending his parties, and they were to maintain a certain kind of physical characteristic and dress code. This further enhances the secrecy and control that characterize these parties.
But Diddy’s ironclad NDA is little more than a legal document representing the extreme proportions some celebrities will go to for privacy. Diddy is trying to stay on top of these legal challenges, and with more information coming out daily, the public is watching to see how this saga ends. Until then, the NDA is a powerful reminder of Diddy’s determination to keep his private life just that-private.
