At Day 1 of the 2023 Invest Fest at the Georgia World Congress Center, Sean “Diddy” Combs, dressed in a grey shirt, took the stage to discuss his life and career. While his business acumen and influence were key topics, Combs has often made headlines for his personal life, particularly his tumultuous relationship with Kim Porter, the late mother of three of his children.
In interviews, Combs has candidly reflected on the challenges of his romantic relationships, admitting to infidelity and a struggle to commit fully to monogamy. He once described his time with Porter as the period where he was “the most monogamous” in his life, though their relationship ended due to his infidelity.
A Complicated Relationship
Combs and Porter’s relationship spanned over a decade, marked by breakups, reconciliations, and public declarations of love. Their initial split came after Combs began pursuing singer Jennifer Lopez. Despite this, Porter took him back when his relationship with Lopez ended, but tensions over monogamy persisted.
In a 2006 Essence interview, Combs questioned societal expectations of fidelity.
“Do you really think that God meant for a man to have just one wife?” he asked Porter. “Or a woman to have one husband?”
Porter pushed back, pointing out the double standard in his philosophy.
“Do you really want me having sex with some other man?” she responded.
When Combs answered no, adding, “God made us different,” Porter dismissed his reasoning as a “cop-out.” She emphasized that fidelity was a choice, one she had made throughout their relationship.
Shortly after the interview, their relationship ended once more after Combs fathered a child with another woman.
Balancing Honesty and Complexity
Combs has often reflected on his role in the relationship. In an interview with DJ Akademiks, he acknowledged the complexities he brought into his romantic life.
“I’ve broken this down: What I can deliver out of a pie is, I can promise you that if I’m in a relationship with you, 25% of your time, you’re going to just feel like, ‘Oh, man, I hate being here. Oh, man, this guy, he cheated on me, he lied on me.’ That’s 25%, you know what I’m saying?” he explained.
He contrasted this by emphasizing the positive aspects he brought to a relationship.
“But then there’s 75% of, I’m [going to] make you the happiest woman in the whole wide world. I’m going to be here to support your dreams; I’m going to be there to hold you, listen to you; I’m going to be there to be your best friend.”
Though introspective, Combs admitted he wasn’t a perfect partner.
“I’m bringing 25% of some bulls***,” he added.
On Marriage and Hope
After reuniting with Porter, questions about marriage naturally arose, particularly as they shared three children together. While Combs acknowledged that Porter “deserves to get married,” he admitted he wasn’t ready for that step.
“I know she deserves to get married, but I’m just not ready,” he said. “It’s not a reflection on how much I love Kim. It’s that I’m just learning how to be a good boyfriend. When I’m finished with this step, I’ll move on to the next.”
Combs suggested ending one interview on a hopeful note, saying, “It’ll give hope to all the girls who fell in love with a player.”
He quickly corrected himself: “Ex-player. Make that ex-player.”
Kim Porter tragically passed away in 2018, but her relationship with Combs remains a significant chapter in his life, one marked by love, regret, and reflection.
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