Following Touré’s MSNBC interview, Tanika Ray, one of Diddy’s former backup dancers, spoke about her experience with the rapper, describing his story as “horrible.”
Amid an ongoing investigation into Sean “Diddy” CombsTwo more people in the media industry are sharing their stories of alleged experiences with the Bad Boy Data founder.
At the same time as it airs on MSNBC The ReidOut On Tuesday night, music journalist and podcaster Touré weighed in after federal agents raided two properties owned by Diddy, which comes as many have accused the report’s producer of sexual assault, sex trafficking and abuse.
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During the conversation, Touré recalled how, more than a decade ago, he got a male family member an internship with Diddy through her referral to him. However, he stated that a family member’s internship with Diddy “came to an abrupt halt about three or four months later,” and they refused to disclose what happened.
“I spoke to my family member, what happened? And then they wouldn’t say,” said Touré. “And I’m like, why did it end? And then they wouldn’t say. And years later, they finally showed up – and (this is) a man – and said that Puff had said, ‘Come home, spend the night with me or the internship is over.’ And then they declared: ‘Completely not.’ He stated: ‘Completely not.’ And the internship is over.”
He added: “But from then on I was like, “Oh, like, this is how it goes, okay. So to hear that things went even further with probably a lot of other people… We feel like we saw this coming.
Following Touré’s interview with Reid, Tanika Ray, one of Diddy’s former backup dancers, took to social media to open up about her experience with the rapper, describing his story as “horrible” and “traumatizing.”
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Ray, who is a former host of Additionalshared a video on Instagram on Wednesday, first alongside a clip of Touré’s MSNBC look.
“Ah, yes, you know we all have stories… Critically, we all have stories,” began Ray. “Mine is horrible and only five people know it, and I’ll probably never tell it.”
“However, since then, I’ve been like, ‘Yes,’” she continued. “I am also intimately aware that you just tell your story and end up being victimized again and again, and remember, I have interviewed you many times.”
“I have a lot of stories, guys. I’ve been in Hollywood for 25 years, possibly more, 30? I got a lot of stories,” she added. “Unfortunately… maybe I will write a book in the future, but it is very traumatizing.”
Ray concluded her video by sharing that “women just want to live every day and feel safe.”
“And when we revisit… we live in a victim state, and no one wants to live there,” she said. “So for individuals who say, ‘Why didn’t you say anything then?’ Because we just want to live. We want to be joyful, and in fact, we simply want to neglect the trauma. Then that’s it.”
The leisure reporter shared more in the caption of her video.
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“Ah, yes, girls keep enough of themselves to act regularly in a person’s world. Unfortunately, we will compartmentalize the pain and dwell on it. We made the most of the experience as a lesson and transferred it in another way.”
Ray – who was Diddy’s backup dancer in the 90s – added: “If I told my story in 1996, then what?? I just knew to stay away from him at all costs. Of course I danced for him and guarded my area. I was on the Vote or Die plane and saved my space. I interviewed him about his projects and saved my space.”
Although she didn’t share any details, she said that “nothing that’s happening is surprising” to her.
“Women hold space to heal and move forward,” Ray said. “Coming together to incriminate is targeting. But in this wild world with a broken system… our healing is the priority. Shame on all these men who allow this. Shame on me, possibly, for prioritizing my psychological well-being, some would say.”
“But after working in a place that takes souls… mine is intact and in the sunlight,” she added. “I saved myself. Now, if anyone wants me to tell my story, give me a name.”
Ray ended his post by referencing Diddy’s former R&B singer, Cassia Ventura, who sued Diddy and accused him of rape, among several allegations of wrongdoing in November. (The rap mogul decided the process within 24 hours.)
“But I believe Cassie bought it!!” she wrote.
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Ray’s post comes just days after the raid by federal agents Diddy’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami, in what Homeland Safety Investigations said is part of an ongoing investigation during which Diddy is targeted. Per TMZ, the investigation is related to the allegations against the businessman, including sex traffickingsexual assault and solicitation and distribution of narcotics and illegal firearms.
Sources also told TMZ that the attacks came as a surprising shock to the producer and his team.
On Tuesday, Diddy’s attorney, Aaron Dyer, released a press release to TMZdenying the allegations against the report’s producer and calling the raids a “witch hunt.”
“Yesterday, there was an excessive and gross use of military actions as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Dyer began. “There is no excuse for the extreme impulse and hostility shown by authorities or the way their children and staff were treated.”
“Mr. Combs was never detained, but he spoke to and cooperated with authorities,” he continued. “Regardless of media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his relatives were arrested and their means of travel were restricted in any way .”
“This unprecedented ambush – combined with a complex and coordinated media presence – results in a premature rush to judgment on Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on unsubstantiated accusations made in civil proceedings,” Dyer added, before concluding, “There was no finding of crime or civil liability in any of these allegations. Combs is harmless and will continue to fight every day to clear his identity.”