“The Simpsons” did not predict the downfall of Diddy.
Matt Selman, the showrunner of the hit animated series, clarified that a viral image of Sean “Diddy” Combs, 54, as a “Simpsons” character running from police is fake.
The picture shows a cartoon Combs wearing a pink suit and matching sunglasses being chased by a group of police officers. It made its rounds on social media after the 2016 security footage of the rapper brutally beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura resurfaced online.
Selman, 52, released a statement to TMZ Thursday addressing the “AI image.”
“In the current era of digital misinformation, The Simpsons ‘predictions’ (or, more accurately, ‘coincidences’) have become meaningless,” he said.
“Any goofball can whip up an AI image based on a current event and say ‘The Simpsons predicted it!’ — and decent-but-easily-misled folks will believe it because they so very want it to be true,’ the TV writer and producer added
Fans believed the viral image was real since “The Simpsons” has a knack for predicting the future.
The Fox series foreshadowed Donald Trump’s presidency, Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl performance, the Ebola outbreak, Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox and more.
The AI photo was also believable since Combs wore a pink suit and sunglasses to the 2023 BET Awards.
Last week, CNN published a horrifying video, dated March 5, 2016, that shows Combs wearing only a bath towel, running after Ventura, 37, at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.
Combs can be seen grabbing her by the back of the neck and throwing her to the floor. He later can be seen kicking her twice as she lies still on the carpet.
The “Last Night” rapper also dragged Ventura by her sweatshirt, shoved her to the floor again, and threw a chair in her direction in the footage.
Combs released an apology video on May 19 where he didn’t name Ventura or refer to her directly.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” he said in his video. “I was f–ked up. I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I’m disgusted,” Combs also said.
Ventura, who dated Combs on and off between 2007 and 2018, released a statement Thursday with her first words since the security footage came out.
“Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers, and those I have yet to meet,” she said. “The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.”
The singer, actress and model added: “Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”
Ventura sued the Bad Boy Records founder in November 2023, alleging that he subjected her to years of violence and sexual abuse.
In the filing, Ventura reportedly alleged that Combs paid the InterContinental $50,000 for the security footage from a physical altercation in March 2016.
Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit one day after she filed it.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.