Photographs shared in late September 2024 authentically depict music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs standing with pop star Taylor Swift.
In late September 2024, two images circulated on social media, allegedly showing pop star Taylor Swift with embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Combs was arrested on Sept. 16, 2024, on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. As these allegations spread, both genuine and doctored photos of Combs with various celebrities surfaced online.
One photo, shared (archived) by a user on X (formerly Twitter), was captioned, “Damn look at Taylor swift hanging with Diddy – did she go to his party mmmm maybe?”
(Threads user @ms.americanpi)
A Threads user wrote, “Taylor Swift’s people have spent millions scrubbing pictures of her and Diddy from the internet. They’d hate it if this got spread around,” while another added, “This looks so photoshopped.”
TinEye and Google reverse-image search results showed the images have spread online at least since late 2009 and early 2010, on social media platforms including on Facebook, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter).
The photographs are real, showing Combs and Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on Sept. 13, 2009. Both photos are available via Getty Images and were taken during that event. Therefore, we have rated this claim as true.
The first image, a horizontal shot, is captioned:
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Sean “Diddy” Combs and singer Taylor Swift the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
The second, a vertical image, is similarly captioned:
2009 MTV Video Music Awards – Show
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Sean “Diddy” Combs (L) and Taylor Swift pose at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
For further reading, see our fact-checks of other photos allegedly featuring Combs and well-known personalities:
Sources
Esposito, Joey. “Pic Shows Diddy, Jennifer Lopez and Aaliyah in Bed Together?” Snopes, 28 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/diddy-jlo-aaliyah-bed-pic/.
Ibrahim, Nur. “Photo Doesn’t Show Harris Attending Party with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.” Snopes, 18 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/kamala-harris-sean-diddy-combs-photo/.
PerryCook, Taija. “Photo Authentically Shows Diddy, Trump and Melania?” Snopes, 28 Sept. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/diddy-trump-melania-2005/.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Singer Taylor Swift the 2009 MTV Video Music…” Getty Images, 14 Sept. 2009, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/sean-diddy-combs-and-singer-taylor-swift-the-2009-mtv-video-news-photo/90716407.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Taylor Swift Pose at the 2009 MTV Video Music…” Getty Images, 14 Sept. 2009, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/sean-diddy-combs-and-taylor-swift-pose-at-the-2009-mtv-news-photo/90712868.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Jailed by Judge after Sex Trafficking Indictment.” AP News, 17 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/sean-diddy-combs-arrested-court-5d570cab4625ca5f9dd16dfd7df4437c.