Source: STAN HONDA / Getty
The dispute between Didi and Diageo is now over as the two parties have reached an agreement and are no longer partners.
According According to reports, Diddy and global spirits giant Diageo have ended a highly contested legal battle in which Diddy accused Diageo of failing to honor its commitment to his spirits brand, claiming it was due to racism. The two parties confirmed the settlement in a joint statement issued on Tuesday (January 16). The liquor brands at the heart of the settlement were Cîroc vodka and DeLeon tequila.
“Sean Combs and Diageo have now agreed to resolve all disputes between them. Mr. Combs has withdrawn all of his allegations against Diageo and will voluntarily dismiss his claims against Diageo with prejudice,” the statement from both parties said. “Diageo and Mr. Combs have no ongoing business relationship with either Cîroc vodka or DeLeón tequila, which Diageo now owns exclusively.” Diageo, which also owns well-known brands such as Guinness, Tanqueray and Johnnie Walker, had first entered in a partnership with Diddy's Combs Wines and Spirits in 2007 to handle the marketing and distribution of Cîroc. In 2013, the two entities purchased DeLeón.
Things took a turn for the worse in May 2023 as Didi sued Diageo in Manhattan Supreme Court in New York, alleging that the brand deliberately neglected its spirits brands compared to others under its umbrella. He also claimed that Diageo devalued Cîroc and DeLeón by marketing them as “urban” brands rather than for the general market. Diageo will file a counterclaim in June, claiming that Diddy had failed to meet the obligations set out in their partnership agreement. “Mr. Combs' bad faith actions clearly breached his contracts and left us with no choice but to proceed to dismiss his baseless complaint and terminate our business relationship,” their filing read at the time.
Severing ties with Diageo is another blow for the artist and tycoon in recent months. Diddy is currently facing multiple lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, which he denies causing. Last November, his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a lawsuit against him accusing him of sexual trafficking and rape. The two settled the lawsuit the next day. Diddy also stepped down as president of REVOLT TV and saw an upcoming Hulu reality series scrapped after the lawsuits.
