Before federal agents arrested hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in September 2024, the star was known as one of the biggest names in the music industry. Combs appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1998 to perform as the musical guest. Unfortunately, those who worked with Combs at the time don’t have fond memories of their experience. Here’s what SNL‘s Ana Gasteyer said happened when Will Ferrell crashed Combs’ rehearsal.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs had an air of ‘faux importance’ as the musical guest on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Ana Gasteyer said
Sean “Diddy” Combs was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 1998. Combs’ career took off in the late ’90s, as his debut album, No Way Out, was released in July 1997. In 1998, Combs took home Grammy awards for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “I’ll Be Missing You.” This was just the start of Combs’ meteoric rise to fame, which came crashing down in 2024 after his September arrest.
Many folks were clamoring to work with Combs in the late ’90s through the 2000s, but Saturday Night Live star Ana Gasteyer shared her less-than-desirable experience with Combs on the set of the show. While speaking on the Las Culturistas podcast, she said Combs “shut down” the “whole building” with his May 1998 appearance, adding that he required “a totally closed set.”
Combs had serious demands, but the SNL cast found a humorous way to show their dismay. Will Ferrell, dressed as his character “Ron,” and Chris Kattan planned to break into the “sealed set” to surprise Combs. “They were like, ‘Wouldn’t it be so funny if Ron just went in?’ And he did,” Gasteyer recalled. “He went on down the stairs and he marched right in.”
While Combs was rapping, Ferrell entered as Ron and purposely looked “disoriented.” Gasteyer called it “the greatest thing that’s ever happened,” though Combs was less than pleased.
“He did not roll with it,” Gasteyer noted. “He was very uncomfortable.” She added that Combs’ behavior gave an “artifice of that faux importance.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Jimmy Page’s collaboration on ‘SNL’ was considered a ‘debacle’
Sean “Diddy” Combs and Led Zeppelin’s guitarist Jimmy Page took the Saturday Night Live stage in 1998. Combs performed “Come With Me,” which sampled Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” The rapper and the rock star were joined by a 40-piece orchestra for what they hoped would be a historic SNL performance. Unfortunately, it didn’t please everyone.
“I like Jimmy Page and P. Diddy, but what they did to ‘Kashmir’ was a debacle,” Public Enemy’s Chuck D told Rolling Stone. “They are giants in their own way – and you can print this – but that was a f***ing travesty.”
Not only did Combs perform the song live, but it was also used for the Godzilla soundtrack. The film received poor reviews, putting the song in an even worse light.
Several A-listers connected to the hip-hop mogul have yet to speak out
Saturday Night Live‘s Ana Gasteyer has no problem speaking out about her experience with Sean “Diddy” Combs over 20 years ago. While some other celebrities have spoken about Combs since his arrest, many A-listers closest to the hip-hop mogul have remained silent. Jay-Z, Ashton Kutcher, Noami Campbell, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Justin Bieber were close to Combs at one point and have yet to speak on his arrest.
Attorney Tony Buzbee spoke to TMZ Live about naming celebrities in connection to Combs’ case. He explained that his legal team needs to be careful, as publicly naming A-listers could lead to a “firestorm.”
“But, we want to make sure that if we name individuals beyond Mr. Combs, that we make sure that we’ve done our homework, because it’s going to create a firestorm. We understand that,” Buzbee said. “We’re going to make sure that we dot our I’s and cross our T’s.
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
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