Sean “Diddy” Combs wasn’t serious when he said he “adopted” a girl named Ava Baroni in 2020, according to TMZ.
The site reported Monday that the music mogul — who was recently arrested and charged for sex trafficking — was never the legal guardian of the person he alleged was his adopted daughter back in 2020.
Sources told the outlet that the video from four years ago where Combs, 54, said that he was Ava’s adopted father was “a skit” and “has been overblown by concerned fans.”
In a 2020 Instagram Live session, Combs introduced Ava to his followers and told her to say her full name: “Ava Combs Baroni.”
Combs then said he “adopted” the “white child,” as Ava — while other men appeared in the background — jokingly explained that she was “on the streets” before “Papa Combs decided that he was going to be a caring man.”
“So then, he saw me and decided to pick me up and said to come inside and stay with his kids,” Ava said, revealing that she’s “basically sisters” with Combs’ twin daughters, Jessie and D’Lila.
Combs — who has seven children — said that Ava’s story was “a little bit borderline suspect,” before claiming that he adopted her like Madonna, Charlize Theron and Sandra Bullock adopted their kids.
The “Coming Home” rapper added that he got “permission” from Ava’s mother to allegedly adopt her. He kissed her on the cheek at the end of the video.
TMZ sources said Ava’s parents were friends with Combs’ late ex, Kim Porter, and she “remains close” with Jessie and D’Lila, 17.
However, the insider claimed Diddy hasn’t been in Ava’s life recently, and her parents are “keeping their distance” from the famous record executive following his arrest.
Combs was taken into custody in New York on Sept. 16 by agents from Homeland Security, just under six months after the agency raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
He was arraigned in a federal courthouse in Manhattan on Sept. 17 and charged with felony sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The disgraced rapper has pleaded not guilty on all charges. He’s behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn and is awaitng his next court appearance scheduled for Oct. 9.
On Monday, People reported that Combs has communicated with his seven children, who are allegedly “in a state of crisis and shock” over his arrest.
Combs has three sons — Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, and Christian, 26, and four daughters — Jessie and D’Lila, 17, Chance, 18, and Love, 1.
Christian was seen at the arraignment last week reading a copy of his father’s 14-page indictment, before the judge ruled that Combs would be held without bail.
