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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A past video of Usher expressing that he would not allow his children to stay with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has resurfaced following the recent legal troubles of the Bad Boy Records founder, who faces charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
Usher, now 45, spent a year living with Diddy in 1994 when he was just 14 years old, an arrangement made by his manager, LA Reid. The experience took place at Diddy’s notorious ‘Puffy Flavor Camp,’ which Usher later spoke about in a 2016 interview.
Usher’s Time at ‘Puffy Flavor Camp’
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in 2016, Usher opened up about his experiences at Diddy’s ‘Puffy Flavor Camp,’ describing it as a wild time. Recalling the events, the “Burn” singer said, “I saw things that I didn’t fully understand at the time,” adding that the environment was quite chaotic.
When Stern asked if Usher would ever send his own children to Diddy’s camp, the “Hey Daddy” singer gave a firm response: “Hell no!”
Usher, a father of four, shares his two older sons, Usher ‘Cinco’ Raymond V (16) and Naviyd Ely (15), with his ex-wife, Tameka Foster. He also has two younger children, daughter Sovereign Bo (3) and son Sire Castrello (2), with his current wife, Jennifer Goicoechea.
LA Reid’s Concerns About Sending Usher to Diddy
Music executive LA Reid, who was instrumental in Usher’s early career, reflected on his decision to send the young artist to live with Diddy. In his 2016 memoir, Reid admitted he had some reservations, wondering whether it was “irresponsible” to place Usher under the influence of one of the most notorious party figures in the industry at the time.
Reid wrote that after signing Usher to LaFace Records in 1993 and releasing his debut single “Call Me a Mack,” he struggled to find the right material to continue building Usher’s image. Seeking to give the young artist a more “edgy” persona, Reid turned to his friend Diddy for help.
Reid recounted asking Diddy if he could teach Usher some of his “swagger” and “flavor.” Despite his concerns about entrusting a 15-year-old Usher to Diddy’s party-fueled world, Reid ultimately secured permission from Usher’s mother, Jonetta Patton, to send him to New York for nearly a year.
Looking back, Reid acknowledged that he was uncertain if the decision was the right one, but noted that he wouldn’t know the full impact of the experience until Usher returned.
