A celebrity PR specialist has claimed that Sean Combs’ seven name changes were all part of a ‘carefully calculated’ decision to ‘blur the lines’ and make it ‘tougher for the public to keep up’
P Diddy’s string of name changes has left many scratching their heads, but according to an exclusive scoop by the Daily Star, there might be more to it than just whimsy.
Speaking to Daily Star, celebrity PR guru Kayley Cornelius divulged the possible motivations behind Sean Combs’ frequent moniker makeovers, having swapped names seven times in the spotlight.
She revealed: “P Diddy’s decision to rebrand multiple times wasn’t just about fitting into the rap culture of catchy nicknames; it appears to be a carefully calculated move, likely going against the advice of any PR team or record label.”
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P Diddy has changed his names seven times throughout his career (Image:Getty Images)
Kayley pointed out that for most celebrities, the goal is to “build and maintain a strong brand,” which she described as “essential” for their public image because it helps in “driving opportunities, shaping public perception and enhancing their work.”
But Diddy seemingly went against the grain as his career-defining choice to “constantly switch up his identity” may have been “more of a personal choice than a business choice.”
She added: “Once a star establishes their name, it becomes harder to shift or escape it. In P Diddy’s case, frequent rebranding might have been a way to blur the lines, making it tougher for the public to keep up.”
Sean Combs, also known as P Diddy, has a knack for keeping us guessing with his ever-changing monikers. “Using more generic names like Love or Swag dilutes the uniqueness of his brand, complicating efforts to trace him digitally, especially given how briefly his name changes have lasted. These names get buried in the vastness of the internet, making any evidence or association harder to track down. Interestingly, though, when it comes to promoting his music, P Diddy always returns to his core brand, suggesting he knows when to leverage his strongest asset.”
The artist initially hit the scene as Puffy, then evolved into Puff Daddy name inspired by Biggie Smalls. But he didn’t stop there; he switched it up to P Diddy.
In a move to keep things fresh, Combs dropped the ‘P’ and went simply by Diddy, but his identity shifts didn’t end there. In 2022, he embraced the names Love and Brother Love.
Back in 2011, Diddy briefly adopted the alias Swag. Meanwhile, the rapper faced serious allegations on 16 September, being arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitutioncharges he “categorically denies”.