Apparently ‘Single Diddy’ is a thing, and he’s back like he never left.
The music mogul touched down in Atlanta yesterday for some pre-Super Bowl lit-tivities and it looks like he spilled a pretty big post-party confession on the ‘gram last night.
While traveling back from a party, Diddy hopped on his Instagram story to give an update about his relationship status. “I ain’t gon’ lie, my friends have been asking me if I’m single Diddy yet,” he says on his Instagram story after many a Ciroc black raspberry. “I’m single muthaf**kin Diddy, I ain’t gon’ lie.”
The question comes nearly four months after his split from longtime girlfriend/singer Cassie went public. There appeared to be no bad blood, with reps for the pair claiming “the decision was amicable and they remain friends.” Few details are known on what caused the split, but Diddy and Cassie did briefly reunite in November following the sudden passing of his ex-girlfriend, model Kim Porter.
Just before the New Year, Cassie made it Instagram official with her new man – celebrity personal trainer Alex Fine, whom Diddy reportedly hired to train Cassie prior to their split. Diddy seemingly approved the new relationship by liking the photo.
As of late, Diddy is putting 100% of his focus into adjusting to life as a full-time single dad. The Bad Boy founder often shares Instagram moments of his early mornings sending his twin daughters, D’Lila and Jessie, off to school. “New day. New life, New responsibilities. Kim I got this. Just like you taught me!” he captioned one of the videos. “I was trained by the best! #KimPorter.”
No telling how Diddy plans to forge ahead as a single man, but we’re excited to see who the new lucky lady will be!
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
