The former romance between Jennifer Lopez and Diddy continues to capture our imaginations in the wake of the rapper’s headline-making arrest. As The Root previously reported, Diddy was arrested earlier this fall on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking, and is currently being held at The Metropolitan Detention Center in New York.
Although the two split over two decades ago, the public continues to parse through Diddy’s public history amid his legal woes, with many looking to this pivotal turn-of-the-century pop culture relationship. We’re taking a deep dive into the whirlwind romance between the two, breaking down seven truths and myths about the once-partnered celebrity couple.
How Did Diddy and Jennifer Lopez Meet?
Diddy came into Lopez’s life as her music career began to take off, with the two meeting in person on the set of Lopez’s video for “If You Had My Love” in 1999. Diddy, fresh out of his on-again off-again relationship with Kim Porter, became a big producing force on Lopez’s debut album, an aspect that would affect her personal life in major ways.
Is Jennifer Lopez’s First Divorce Diddy’s Fault?
The two got very close, so close that Lopez’s ex-husband Ojani Noa claims the rapper is to blame for their divorce. While this of course is all alleged and from Noa’s perspective, he said in an interview, “Part of that divorce was because of Puffy, explaining that he supported her singing career and that once she signed with Sony, “deception” began because of Diddy.
With Noa living in Miami while Lopez worked on her debut album in New York, Noa explained, “When I could, I would go to be with her. There, in that distance, in that separation, was where the deception started.”
The Infamous 1999 Club Incident
The infamous 1999 club incident remains the moment everyone refers to when discussing the former couple. In case you don’t remember, on Dec. 27, 1999, Diddy and J.Lo were at a Manhattan nightclub when a huge fight broke out, leading to gunshots and the injuries of three people.
Lopez, Diddy and his bodyguard Anthony “Wolf” Jones reportedly fled the scene, but were eventually chased through Manhattan and stopped by the police with a gun in the vehicle. Both Lopez and Diddy were taken into custody, in what would become one of the biggest media stories of the year. The singer was detained before eventually getting released and cleared of charges quickly.
It was a bit more complicated for Diddy, who was indicted on charges related to gun possession. He was eventually acquitted of all charges after a weekslong trial.
Why Did J.Lo and Diddy Call It Quits?
In 2001, the two decided to end their relationship after two years of dating, ending things on Valentine’s Day. At the time, Diddy released a statement via his publicist which read, “Mr. Combs confirmed that he and his love, Jennifer Lopez, have, in fact, broken up. He wanted to put all the rumors surrounding their relationship to rest. At this difficult time, we ask that you respect his privacy.”
Of course, the media had a field day with their breakup, with many pointing to the shooting, Diddy’s alleged infidelity and more to the reason why the two decided to call it quits.
Cheating Allegations?
Cheating allegations have also swirled around this couple for years. While never confirmed, Jennifer has spoken publicly about her suspicions of Diddy being unfaithful to her while they were together. “I never caught him [cheating] but I just knew,” she told Vibe magazine in 2003. “He’d say he was going to a club for a couple of hours and then never came back that night. I had to think, do I want to be home with kids in 10 years wondering where somebody is at three in the morning?”
Fans have also been quick to call out that Lopez’s mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, does not seem to be a huge fan of the disgraced rapper, either. In a recently resurfaced clip from “The Wendy Williams Show,” Wendy asks Lopez if she would ever get back with Diddy, and her mother in the audience is very clearly seen shaking her head in disapproval.
Diddy Only Dated Jennifer To Get Kim Porter’s Attention?
Rumors have swirled that Diddy never actually liked Lopez at all — that he was just dating her to make Kim Porter jealous. Diddy would reconcile with Porter after he split with Lopez, as their hot-and-cold relationship lasted from about 1994 to 2007.
He told Essence in 2007 that he expected to Porter to come “running after him” when he first dated Lopez in 1999. He explained to the outlet, “I thought, ‘I’ll test the waters, and hopefully Kim will see I’m serious and come running after me.”
How Much Did J-LoKnow?
The question that seems to linger in the wake of Diddy’s arrest is just how much Lopez was privy to while dating the disgraced rapper for two years. While some seem convinced there is no way Lopez didn’t know anything about the crimes, others are not so sure, including one of Lopez’s ex-staffers who shared her thoughts this week.
“If you knew Jennifer Lopez, if you ever worked with her like I did, or if you were close with people who are like family to her like I am, you would know she did not have any idea about Diddy,” she recently claimed in a message posted on Threads.
As of right now, Lopez has yet to comment publicly on Diddy and his crimes.
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