Too $hort is standing by Diddy. During an appearance on "The TMZ Podcast," the "Blow The Whistle" rapper told Towanda that he intends to be on hand when the Bad Boy founder walks free, declaring, "I'm going to the Puff Daddy coming home party."
The remarks, published October 1, 2026, by TMZ.com, place Too $hort among the few prominent figures in hip-hop openly committing to celebrate Diddy's release. Diddy's projected prison release date has been moved up to Jan. 21, 2028, according to TMZ's prior reporting, meaning the welcome-home bash is roughly a year and a half away.
Too $hort did not offer blanket support. He singled out the hotel surveillance video showing Diddy kicking Cassie as the one matter he judges him for, condemning the violent conduct while drawing a line between that behavior and what he characterized as Diddy's private sex life. Over the years he has known Diddy, Too $hort said, he never witnessed anything unusual beyond ordinary parties — marijuana, music and people enjoying themselves.
The rapper went further, arguing that Diddy should not be behind bars for the conduct that produced his prison sentence, and he said he believes the Cassie video exerted enormous influence on how the case unfolded. The legal record is narrower than the public narrative: Diddy was not tried for domestic violence, and the jury acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking. He was convicted only on a small number of counts tied to prostitution.
Looking ahead to a possible comeback, Too $hort advised Diddy to proceed with caution. He cited Bill Cosby, who announced a comedy tour following his release, as an example of what Diddy should avoid — a splashy, immediate return to the spotlight. Too $hort's recommendation is to test the waters gradually, or alternatively to relocate to Bali and spend time with Russell Simmons.