On the day of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ conviction for transportation to engage in prostitution, Jason Swain reflected on a tragic incident over three decades prior in which his brother, Dirk Swain, and eight others died in a crowd crush at a charity basketball game in a Manhattan gym. This 1991 event, organised by the then-nascent music producer, drew a large, oversold crowd, culminating in a devastating stampede.
Recalling that fateful night, Swain was shown a Polaroid of his brother’s body, a moment etched into his memory forever. Thousands had come to the event, which turned into chaos, with no charges filed against anyone involved despite the event’s tragic outcome. The victims, aged between 15 and 28, included Dirk, who had previously survived a shooting and was eager to attend the charity event until his life was cut short.
In the aftermath, families of the victims, including Jason Swain, pursued civil suits for wrongful death, eventually settling claims against Combs for around $750,000 out of a $5.8 million total. A state court deemed Combs and co-promoter Dwight “Heavy D” Myers partially culpable for the deaths, while the college bore some blame as well.
Swiftly, Combs’ career continued to thrive despite the allegations surrounding him, including a previous acquittal for gun charges in a separate incident. Both Swain and Charrisse Miles, a survivor of the stampede, have expressed dissatisfaction with Combs’ lack of accountability for the tragedy; they feel he has consistently avoided taking full responsibility.
Following his recent conviction, which carries a possible 20-year sentence, Swain and Miles see little comfort in the judgment, believing it does not address the harm caused. Combs’ behaviour during and after the trial has drawn criticism, with observers noting a seeming lack of remorse or acknowledgment of the victims and their families, which led Miles to describe him as exhibiting narcissistic traits.
Recalling the traumatic events of 1991, Miles described the terrifying atmosphere as the crowd surged and people were crushed in a stairwell. She noted Combs’ presence among the rushing crowd appeared self-serving, lacking any effort to restore control or offer assistance. They highlighted a mayoral report from 1992 which pointed to a breakdown of responsibility among those involved in the event, including Combs, for the overcrowding and chaos.
Despite brief mentions of the incident in his music, both Swain and Miles insist that Combs has not adequately addressed the impact of the tragedy on victims’ families. The sorrow and trauma from that night remain deeply embedded in their lives, lasting reminders of the lives lost in the stampede.