Dawn Richard is explaining why her time as a member of former R&B-electronic group Diddy-Dirty Money was “volatile.”
The Creole Culture artist was part of the early 2000s trio with Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kalenna Harper that released one album, Last Train to Paris, in 2011.
Richard, also formerly of pop group Danity Kane, spoke about her short-lived experience in Diddy-Dirty Money on the Wednesday (Nov. 4) episode of Reality With the King.
The singer emphasized that at the time, Diddy had full control over her image.
“The work environment wasn’t normal,” Richard said at the 50-minute mark of the video below, adding that their schedule was “continuous.” The singer noted that she didn’t have a “favorite outfit” from her time in the group because Diddy always signed off on her attire.
“Everything I wore had to be photographed first and approved,” she said. “I was a grown woman. I couldn't pick what I wanted to wear, how how my hair should be worn. We had to run that by him every day. That's not normal.
“We were commodities—products—and treated horribly. At the time, we were told to be grateful for that because we got opportunity,” Richard added.
She also said Diddy’s decision to leave the group led to it dissolving.
“Again, it was volatile.” Richard said.
The Bad Boy Entertainment founder is currently serving a 50-month sentence for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, although his release date has repeatedly been pushed back.
Richard unsuccessfully tried to sue the music executive for sexual assault, mistreatment, and inhumane working conditions among other claims.
On an October episode of Way Up With Angela Yee, the singer claimed that Diddy lifted her unreleased Dirty Money vocals for his 2023 album.
"I think one of the biggest misconceptions was everybody thought I worked with Puff after I left him because they saw The Love Album. He stole that vocal. That was a Dirty Money song," she said at the time.
