Jay-Z’s connection to disgraced music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is getting harder to ignore by the second. In December, Jay-Z was named in a lawsuit alongside Diddy. The lawsuit accuses the hip-hop star of sexual assault. Now, Diddy’s former bodyguard is stepping forward to suggest that the bond between Jay-Z and Diddy is even tighter than many think. Diddy himself revealed just how close he was to Jay-Z last year.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Jay-Z were so close that they called each other by their legal names

Jay-Z has been laying low in recent months. He’s been quiet about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ arrest and appears to be trying to put some space between himself and the hip-hop mogul. It’s not an easy task. He really can’t deny his association with Diddy or how close they were. Aside from being named in a lawsuit associated with Diddy, they appeared together regularly. The rap mogul even spoke openly about his bond with Jay-Z.

During an appearance on The Late Late Show in 2023, Diddy revealed there are just two people in his life that he is close enough to allow them to use his legal name. During a segment of Carpool Karaoke, the rapper told James Coren that Jay-Z and his mother, Janice Combs, are the only two people in his life who can call him ‘Sean.’

Diddy went on to explain that the closeness wasn’t one-sided, either. He said he also calls Jay-Z by his legal name. Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter. Jay-Z, like Diddy, has gone by multiple nicknames throughout his career. No one, however, seems to call him Shawn. Even his wife, Beyonce, doesn’t call him Shawn. In a 2013 documentary, Beyonce revealed she calls her husband “Jay,” like everyone else.

Diddy’s former bodyguard speaks out about the friendship

Jay-Z’s lawyer might be trying to make it seem like his client was never really friends with Diddy, but Diddy’s former bodyguard isn’t about to let that happen. In a recent interview with Art of Dialogue, Gene Deal shot down the notion that Diddy and Jay-Z weren’t actually friends. He said the pals were so close that they had “matching white girlfriends.”

Deal recalled several moments when Jay-Z hung out with Diddy. He also openly referenced another Diddy connection that the world can’t stop talking about. Deal said he once attended a Nets game with Jay-Z, Diddy, and Ashton Kutcher. Kutcher’s connection to Diddy has also been heavily discussed since the arrest. Much like Jay-Z, Kutcher has attempted to downplay his connection to Diddy in recent months.