New Delhi, India

In the aftermath of Sean "Diddy" Combs' recent arrest, Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump shared an image of his political rival Vice President Kamala Harris on his Truth Social platform. 

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The image was doctored, and even though he later deleted it, the edited image has stirred controversy. 

Combs 'freak offs' or an innocent photo?

The manipulated image falsely depicted Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris alongside Sean 'Diddy' Combs, with text implying her involvement in the American rapper's alleged "freak offs," a term linked to the charges against him.

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Also read | Harris slams 'hypocrite' Trump for his 'immoral' abortion bans: 'How dare they...'

The image was a manipulation of 2001 photograph of Harris with former talk show host Montel Williams and his daughter, Ashley. However, in the photo, Trump shared Williams' face replaced by Combs'. 

Have a look at the real vs fake image:

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Diddy-Harris

A copy of the doctored image is now being widely shared with the embedded caption "Kamala doing the Diddy," and "Madam Vice President, have you ever been involved with or engaged in one of Puff Daddy's freak offs?"

Diddy-Harris 2

Trump and doctored images

This manipulated image is nothing new. Trump has previously shared doctored images, including one falsely showing Taylor Swift supporting him and another misrepresenting Harris at the Democratic National Convention.

'Diddy' Combs' legal troubles

Combs was recently arrested and indicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and other serious offences. The charges stem from accusations that he coerced victims into extended sexual acts, referred to as "freak offs," by the persecutors and which involved the use of drugs to ensure their compliance. These legal troubles follow a lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, Cassie, in 2023, which was settled shortly after its filing, despite Combs' denial of the allegations.

Trump and Harris's connection to Combs

Trump and Harris have both had previous public interactions with Combs. Harris praised Combs for his efforts to support Black communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Trump has called him a "good friend" in the past. Old photos of Trump and Combs have resurfaced, gaining traction online.

(With inputs from agencies)