At one of Diddy's first hip-hop events, nine people died. Backstage, even more horrors were unfolding.

Content warning: This article contains details of sexual assault.

As Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution, a new documentary is adding even more layers to his troubled past.

Diddy: Making of a Bad Boy explores how the hip-hop mogul built his empire through extensive interviews with former friends, employees, and Bad Boy artists. The documentary reveals a pattern of alleged abuse and manipulation spanning decades, including accusations from multiple individuals who shared their experiences.

In one of the film's most shocking moments, it traces back to one of Combs' earliest controversies: the 1991 basketball game stampede at City College that killed nine people. Behind the scenes of the events, another horrific event was allegedly unfolding.

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As a 22-year-old promoter, Combs was found partially liable for the tragedy due to inadequate security and poor event organisation.

"The lies go back to City College," a victim's family member, Jason Swain, claimed in the film.

"Had someone found him accountable, it may have slowed down the process of all the other things that happened to other people."

Listen to The Spill's hosts unpack the recent Diddy allegations. Post continues after podcast.

This early incident could have ended his career, but he went on to build his Bad Boy empire. The victims' families maintain he never properly acknowledged responsibility or apologised.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs documentary: What happened at the CCNY stampede in 1991?

The tragic events at City College of New York (CCNY) on December 28, 1991, marked a dark moment in hip-hop history.

A charity basketball game promoted by a then-22-year-old Combs and rapper Heavy D turned deadly when overcrowding led to a stampede in a gymnasium hallway at CCNY's Nat Holman gymnasium.

On the day of the event, more than 5,000 attendees showed up and tried to force their way inside a gymnasium that would only fit 2,730 people.

"Not only was it filled inside, there [were] probably just as many people outside that couldn't get inside," a friend of Combs', Tim Patterson, recalled in Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.

Nine people lost their lives and 29 others were injured when thousands of people attempted to enter the gymnasium that was already filled beyond capacity. The victims, aged 18-24, died from asphyxiation in the crush of people trying to enter through a narrow stairwell.

Combs was accused of overselling tickets, not hiring enough security and promoting the event as if it were in a 10,000-person capacity venue.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs in the '90s. Image: Getty.

At the time, Diddy was working at the label Uptown Records, and he promoted parties as an extra form of income. There were conflicting stories in the documentary about Diddy's actions during the tragedy.

The rapper's childhood friend, Lee Davis (a.k.a. DJ EZ Lee), claimed that Diddy was "running around trying to save people" and he even "saw him trying to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to people."

Diddy's former bodyguard, Gene Deal, contradicted these claims. "I never saw Sean Combs give anyone CPR," he alleged. "If anybody tells you that, they're telling a flat-out lie."

The incident resulted in multiple lawsuits against various parties, including Sean Combs, Heavy D, CCNY, and the event promoters.

At just 20 years old, Sonya Williams died at City College after being given a ticket by Combs, who she considered a friend. The rapper offered her family $50,000 as a payout.

"I remember looking around the office and I'm seeing all these plaques now on the wall," Sonny Williams Jr. recalled.

"I said, 'Brother, you got all this going on, and you offered me $50,000.' He said, 'Sonny, man, listen, man, you know, that's real generous. That's a generous donation.' And I lost it. I said, 'Is Sonya your fucking friend? You offered me $50,000 and you gave Sonya the ticket to go to that event.' That was a slap in my face."

Even though no criminal charges were filed, a lawsuit later found that Diddy and Heavy D were 50 per cent responsible for the deaths, per the documentary.

"All the families settled and were given a settlement amount," a victim's brother, Jason Swain, said. "We got $40,000 from Sean Combs directly. But he never owned up to it, never just said, 'I apologise.' There's a clip of him saying that it wasn't overbooked… That's a blatant lie."

Jason Swain in the documentary. Image: Binge.

In the 2017 documentary Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story, Combs reflected on how the tragedy affected him. He expressed remorse over the incident, but denied responsibility and maintained that he had followed proper procedures in organising the event.

The tragedy remains one of the biggest concert disasters in New York City history and led to major reforms in event security and crowd control measures.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs was accused of sexual assault at the same 1991 CCNY stampede.

In a lawsuit filed in December 2024, a woman claimed that on the same night and event where nine people lost their lives, Combs drugged and raped her.

The anonymous plaintiff stated she encountered Combs while searching for another rapper she had planned to meet.

"She and her friend were taken to an office at the back of a locker room, where Combs had a makeshift dressing room set up. He introduced himself and his bodyguard, who then stood outside the door while they talked," the lawsuit read.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs in the '90s. Image: Getty.

After accepting what was claimed to be a soft drink, she reportedly "began to feel woozy and attempted to leave to find her rapper friend on her own, but Combs blocked her exit."

She then alleged that Diddy began "touching himself" and "began to fondle Plaintiff and overpowered her when she struggled. Combs removed her underwear and began molesting her before climbing on top of her and penetrating her."

The lawsuit document recalled how overwhelming the crowd was at the event.

"The scene outside was chaotic. There were people packed into the building and running in every direction. Plaintiff spent about half an hour looking for her friend before finding an exit."

In response to the lawsuit, Diddy's attorneys told the Mirror that "Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are facially ridiculous or demonstrably false.

"Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor."

Combs denies all allegations against him.

If you or anyone you know needs expert help, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) — the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Feature image: Getty.