Diddy Reportedly Apologized to Former Vibe EIC After Allegedly Threatening to See Her 'Dead in the Trunk of a Car'

• Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly threatened a former Vibe Magazine editor-in-chief over a cover dispute in 1997
• The music mogul reportedly asked to see his magazine covers before publication, against the outlet's policy
• According to The New York Times, he visited Vibe's offices before the alleged threat was made over the phone

Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly threatened a former Vibe Magazine editor-in-chief in 1997.

On Friday, July 12, The New York Times published an account from former Vibe editor Danyel Smith, 59, in which she recalled being allegedly intimidated by the music mogul, 54, over his December 1997/January 1998 double issue covers. 

According to Smith, a few days after shooting Combs’ cover photos, he asked to see the magazine before publication — which was reportedly against policy. “After I told him no, we heard that he planned to come to our office and force us to show him what we’d chosen — and to make us choose something else if he didn’t like what he saw,” the veteran journalist claimed.

Smith then alleged that a safety plan was put in place for her in the event that Combs visited Vibe’s offices, as he already “had a reputation for shaking tables” after being found guilty of criminal mischief in 1996 for threatening a New York Post photographer with a gun, also amid rumors that he allegedly attacked a woman at his Bad Boy Records offices.

When Combs did eventually make his way to Vibe’s New York City office building, Smith recalled being put in a cab home to dodge the producer’s queries about his magazine covers pre-print.

The next day, the editor claimed that she received a phone call from Combs who still insisted on seeing his advance covers. She denied the request, writing of Vibe’s policy, “It’s not what we do.” But Combs reportedly responded with a threat, in which he allegedly told Smith that he would see her “dead in the trunk of a car.” 

After demanding he take back the comment, Combs allegedly replied, “‘Take what back?’ before adding “with a vile laugh, ‘[Expletive] you.’”

Smith remembered threatening legal action against Combs for his words and claimed that within two hours of speaking to her personal attorney, the mogul faxed over an apology.

Diddy refused comment on the record regarding the situation to the NYT. PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Combs for comment.

Smith noted that her 1997 story about Combs’ threat was also mentioned in her 2022 book, Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. Per her New York Times article, she and the rapper crossed paths in the years since professionally, reuniting in 2006 for another Vibe cover story.

She also wrote of an alleged encounter between Combs and his ex, Kim Porter, in late 1998, in which he reportedly popped up on the late model — the mother of four of his children, who died in 2018 — at an N.Y.C. restaurant where she was grabbing cocktails with friends. According to Smith, the "I'll Be Missing You" performer “demanded that Porter hand over her baguette purse and turned it upside-down,” snatching up her belongings off the table while saying, “You ain’t got. No business. In here. You need. To be. At home. With. Those. Kids.”

Smith’s NYT account comes as Combs is currently facing multiple lawsuits alleging sexual assault, abuse, rape and sex trafficking — most recently, one from former adult film star Adria English that was filed on July 3. To date, at least seven people have come forward with allegations about the star after ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit (now settled) against him in November.

According to a recent report from NBC News, Combs is said to be the focus of an ongoing federal criminal investigation looking into his sex trafficking allegations. Per the outlet, familiar sources said the producer’s legal team was notified about the probe by federal authorities in the Southern District of New York. 

The insiders also claimed that a federal grand jury is hearing evidence as part of the investigation, but it’s not yet clear if formal charges will be brought.

Combs has previously denied all allegations made against him.