Because of the nature of Ventura’s allegations and the details in his open indictment – as well as the 11 other civil lawsuits filed against Combs for assault, sexual misconduct and other crimes – his past romantic relationships have become a particularly heated subject of speculation in tabloids and social media comment sections.

Some even went so far as to claim that Combs had a hand in Porter’s sudden death.

On Sunday, the Daily Mail published an article with the headline: “What really happened to Diddy’s dead girlfriend Kim Porter as wild conspiracies rage.” Two days later, the British tabloid followed up with another article, which read: “Haunting post from Diddy X to ex-partner Kim Porter as stars demand full investigation into her death.”

Combs and Porter’s long-term on-off relationship began in 1994. They had four children together: Porter’s son Quincy Taylor Brown was born in 1991 and later adopted by Combs; the couple’s biological son, Christian Combs, was born in 1994; and their biological twin daughters, Jessie James Combs and D’Lila Star Combs, were born in 2006.

Combs and Porter split for the last time in 2007 after Porter discovered that Combs had been unfaithful while pregnant with her daughters. (Combs’ other daughter, Chance Combs, was also born to another woman in 2006.)

At the time, Porter told Essence that she secretly packed her things and left home when Combs was out of town.

“There was no other way,” Porter said. “Do you think he would have let me walk out the door? He wouldn’t have wanted me to go.”

When asked if she was afraid of Combs’ reaction, Porter replied: “No! Not at all. But I wanted to be dramatic.”

Porter died of lobar pneumonia in 2018, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She was 47 years old.

A few days after Porter was found dead at home, Combs posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, which has since been deleted.

“I don’t know what to do without you baby. I miss you so much,” he wrote, according to People. “Today I will pay tribute to you, I will try to find the words to explain our inexplicable relationship. We were more than best friends, we were more than soul mates.”

Quincy, Christian, Jessie and D’Lila defended their parents’ relationship in an open letter

Combs and Porter’s four children issued a joint statement on Wednesday, which was published by Essence.

Quincy (33), Christian (26), Jessie (17) and D’Lila (17) denied rumors that memoirs circulating on the Internet that Porter allegedly wrote before her death were authentic and condemned anyone who spoke to the press on their mother’s behalf.

They also put an end to the “horrific conspiracy theories” surrounding Porter’s “tragic death,” which is especially notable since Porter’s ex and Quincy’s biological father, Albert Joseph Brown III (aka producer Al B. Sure!), recently shared an Instagram post calling for an investigation into Porter’s death.

“Our lives were shattered when we lost our mother,” the statement said. “She was our world, and nothing has been the same since her death. Although it was incredibly difficult to comprehend how she could have been taken from us so young, the cause of death has long been established. There was no crime.”

Quincy, Christian, Jessie and D’Lila also asked for privacy as they deal with the death of their mother and the arrest of their father.

“We are deeply saddened that the world has made a spectacle out of the most tragic event of our lifetime,” the statement said.

“We ask everyone to respect our mother Kim Porter and honor her legacy so she can rest in peace,” the letter concludes. “She deserves it. We love and miss you, Mom.”

This is the first time any of Combs’ children have spoken publicly since his arrest – although Quincy and Christian, as well as Diddy’s 30-year-old son Justin Combs, were seen in court last week for Combs’ bail hearings. Before a hearing began, Combs looked back at his family and held his heart before sitting down while one of his sons held his hands up and formed his fingers into a heart.

Christian is facing allegations of sexual assault

In April, Combs was named as a co-defendant in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles against his youngest son.

A woman named Grace O’Marcaigh claimed that Christian drugged and groped her on a luxury yacht where she was working as a stewardess.

The complaint reviewed by BI includes an audio recording of the incident in which O’Marcaigh told Christian to stop touching her and “take his hand off my butt.”

It also states that Combs chartered the yacht in December 2022. O’Marcaigh said Combs had full control over the vessel’s crew.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” the lawsuit states.

Combs and Christian’s attorney, Aaron Dyer, denied the allegations and called the lawsuit “offensive and without merit.”

Jacob Shamsian contributed reporting.