Outside the Manhattan federal courthouse, where Sean "Diddy" Combs is now ensnared in a high-stakes federal trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. Diddy's ex-right-hand man, Gene Deal, who became one of Diddy's most prominent detractors, reportedly knocked out a YouTuber during a heated argument, and The Art of Dialogue photographer posted a clip of it.
The man in question is D Not, a.k.a. an internet personality who had supposedly been heckling Deal for a while. Think less hard-hitting journalism and more schoolyard taunts calling him "Uncle Phil" and throwing around other nicknames. The Deal, visibly frustrated, threatened D that the disrespect wouldn't remain only verbal. ]
The courthouse sidewalk hilariously took on the role of a real-life subplot in the ongoing circle jerk of Diddy legal drama for just a split second. According to eyewitnesses, it happened quickly. "They were just flying words," he continues, adducing canary metaphors: One minute, it was words flying. The next was D. It was not crashing to the pavement, according to the police. Deal, who cannot beat around the bush or avoid a confrontation, was quickly advised not to come near the courthouse for the next few days.
This explosion of anger is not simply about wounded egos but a glimpse into the gathering tempest around Diddy's trial and Deal's part in it.
The Bad Boy Records founder left the rapper, and since then, Deal has become a fearless and unapologetic detractor of the man he used to shield. He's written a book, done interviews, and exposed the company's claim not only that Bad Boy Entertainment was a record label but also, in his view, a guise for far more nefarious activity.
In recent interviews, Deal has held nothing back, describing Diddy as a man coming undone under pressure. He's even gone so far as to claim that the music mogul will eventually "crack" and take a plea deal. Deal believes that Diddy would crack facing down a courtroom without the fog of gossip, celebrity, and goodwill, not to mention substances.
But as he has positioned himself as a whistleblower, not everyone is cheering. Detractors claim Deal is putting Diddy through the wringer for publicity. Those who back him, however, see a man finally revealing the years of what they claim to be abuse and manipulation deep within the entertainment machine.
As for the punch heard around the courthouse, Deal may have to sit for a while, but it's certainly not the last time we'll see him swing. On or off cameras, under oath or without, it seems Gene Deal will continue shooting verbally until the entire truth comes to light.
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