[2] These parties were often sponsored by prominent brands who gave away merchandise and were attended by numerous celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton.
[2][3] According to The New York Times, the choice of the color white as part of a strictly-enforced dress code was intended by Combs to strip away people's image and put them on the same level, creating "a certain pristine simplicity".
[8] In 2004 the party was held at the 'PlayStation 2 Estate' in Bridgehampton, New York, on July 4 in aid of Combs's Citizen Change, an organization he established to increase minority voter participation in the 2004 United States presidential election.
[9] Guests included Tyson Beckford, Elton Brand, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Paris Hilton, LL Cool J, Betsey Johnson, Lennox Lewis, Lisa Ling, Denise Rich, and Al Sharpton.
Representatives for Combs described the parties as "iconic, a true convergence of hip-hop, Hollywood and Black excellence ... an endless stream of people vying to attend".
[2] Guests included Russell Brand, Mariah Carey, Estelle, Jonah Hill, Lil' Kim, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, and Marla Maples and her daughter Tiffany Trump.
[17] The term "freak-offs" refers to extravagant parties organized by Combs that became infamous for their alleged association with illicit activities, including drug use, non-consensual sexual encounters, and physical violence.
[18] Known for their opulence and secrecy, these parties often spanned multiple days and featured high-profile guests, lavish settings, and performances that blurred the line between entertainment and exploitation.
[20] Held in private mansions, luxury hotels, and occasionally on yachts, "Freak-offs" were characterized by their over-the-top nature—featuring everything from celebrity DJ sets to intimate performances.
[34][35][36] In 2024, Jesse McKinley and Sarah Maslin Nir wrote in The New York Times that in the 2000s "few events held the cultural cachet" that his White Parties did and that Combs would be "invariably toasting the scene with a glass of Cîroc vodka, and welcoming comparisons of his revels to those of lore".
[7] The parties saw a broad range of social and cultural elites socialising together as "veteran celebrities mixed with of-the-moment stars and the high-society set at gatherings that often had civic-minded causes" according to the New York Times.
[2] A statement from Combs said that it was disappointing to "see the media and social commentators twist these cultural moments into something they were not ... Shaming celebrities who attended, taking video clips and photos out of context, and trying to link these events to false allegations is simply untrue".
[22] Several social media posts and newspaper articles suggest that White Chicks might have been inspired by real-life events or individuals present at Combs's infamous parties,[44][45] mentioning theories linking the film's exaggerated portrayal of elite lifestyles to personalities observed at these gatherings.
[54][55] Other productions, such as Madagascar,[56][57][58] The Simpsons,[59][60] and South Park,[61][62][63][64] are also cited as examples of media that subtly alluded to or parodied the lifestyle and controversies surrounding Combs.