Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Scandals Are Affecting a Boy Band Who Has Nothing to Do With Him
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ controversies have drawn attention to almost everyone he’s been associated with, from Cassie to Jennifer Lopez. Even his former Making the Band proteges have been getting extra attention thanks to the music mogul’s alleged crimes. However, there’s one band who’s also been negatively affected by Diddy. Even though they’ve never had a relationship with the CEO at all.
How Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ scandals affected O-Town
Before Diddy took over the Making the Band brand, the original version of the show aired on ABC in the year 2000. It focused on another music mogul, Lou Pearlman, who went on a nationwide search to discover the next popular boy band. His quest led him to O-Town, who enjoyed moderate success in the music industry. According to Billboard, their first record, named after their band, debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 back in 2001. However, the group would experience a few ups and downs after their debut, even temporarily disbanding.
Nowadays, O-Town faces another obstacle to their success. Because of their association with Making the Band, they’ve had trouble getting work thanks to how closely the reality series is tied to Diddy. O-Town headlined the series for three seasons before Diddy started hosting the reality TV show. Still, potential music bookers were afraid customers might connect O-Town to Diddy, anyway.
“The corporate events O-Town does tend to be the strongest offers for the group,” the band’s agent, Matt Rafal, told The Hollywood Reporter. “The offer was pulled due to the perception of the group being attached to Diddy. We made it clear O-Town’s Making the Band had no association with Diddy, but the company worried guests may be confused.”
One of the group’s members, Jacob Underwood, added that it didn’t help their pictures were posted alongside Diddy’s, further tying them together.
“Of all the bands in Making the Band, we’re the only one not tied to him,” Underwood said. “The more people confuse us with a Diddy band and post our pictures with his story, the more it goes against us. We make a living touring and can’t afford to have [bookers] Googling us to find the latest Diddy clickbait.”
Another band member, Erik-Michael Estrada, felt the Making the Band series did its legacy a disservice by focusing too much on Diddy. Instead, he felt they should’ve focused more on the talented groups that emerged from the television series.
O-Town was interested in working with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs years before his controversies
A couple of years before Cassie filed her lawsuit against him, O-Town wasn’t opposed to collaborating with Diddy on a project. Diddy revealed over social media that he was considering reviving Making the Band . Speaking with TMZ, O-Town shared they wouldn’t have minded working with Diddy on the project and mentoring the new generation of artists.
“I think, at this point in our career, we’re all about paying it forward. We had a bunch of mentors when we were coming up. We would love to help young people figure things out. If Diddy wants us, holler at us,” Estrada said.
His other bandmates co-signed his offer. Band member Dan Miller also explained what he thought made Diddy’s version of Making the Band so popular among viewers.
“It’s good television, Miller said. “People want to root for good people and talented people.”
Given how Diddy’s scandals have affected the band’s livelihood, however, it’s a good thing the music mogul didn’t give them that call.
