Since May 2024, the phrase “Nice Try, Diddy” has gained popularity on platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter). What started as a meme to make fun of Sean Love Combs, aka Diddy, has quickly evolved into a viral phenomenon.
Initially, the phrase was used to ridicule the rapper’s tendency to be involved in multiple projects, many of which never came to fruition. Over the past few months, “Nice Try, Diddy” has taken on a darker tone.
This came after Diddy’s arrest in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The meme is used with sarcastic intent to point out the scandals surrounding the rapper, especially on social media.
Where does “Nice Try, Diddy” come from?
The phrase was first identified in random social media posts, where users would post comments such as “Nice Try, Diddy .” The exact origin is somewhat nebulous, but the meme is believed to have gained popularity following an Instagram post by @raccoon2u2, who linked the phrase to the sexual misdemeanor allegations against the rapper.
Why did “Nice try, Diddy” go viral on Instagram?
Sean Combs’ arrest on September 16, 2024, was a catalyst for the meme to resurface with force. During the investigation, strange details were found such as the existence of hundreds of bottles of baby oil in his properties, which further fueled speculation and conspiracy theories on networks such as TikTok.
Rumors of underground tunnels and other wild ideas began to circulate, and “Nice Try, Diddy” became a favorite Internet shout-out.
Despite the seriousness of the accusations, many Internet users have taken advantage of the situation to continue using the meme as a kind of inside joke. The curious thing is that the comments where the phrase appears often have no relation to Diddy or the charges against him.
A Reddit user, u/, in the r/OutOfTheLoop community, explained in June 2024 that the “Nice Try, Diddy” meme was simply a silly joke, implying that the rapper tries to get into everything. This type of absurd humor has been part of the internet’s DNA for years, and Diddy’s case is no different.
Diddy’s trial is ongoing, and media attention on the case is likely to grow. Like many viral internet phenomena, “Nice Try, Diddy” could suddenly fade away or evolve into new forms of ironic expression, depending on how the rapper’s story progresses in court.
New allegations against P Diddy
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is facing new allegations of sexual assault and rape, adding to more than a hundred lawsuits filed against him. The five latest complaints, filed Sunday in the Southern District of New York by attorney Tony Buzbee, include allegations that Combs sexually assaulted the plaintiffs between 2000 and 2022.
Two of the plaintiffs are men and three are women, one of whom alleges she was raped at age 13. He is also accused of drugging several of them.
Buzbee said they will continue filing cases on a weekly basis as they gather more evidence. The lawsuits have been filed anonymously by plaintiffs identified as John Doe and Jane Doe.
Combs is currently in federal custody and has pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. His trial is scheduled for May 5, 2025, in New York, and could be extended if additional charges are filed. Combs was arrested on September 16, 2024, and remains in jail without bail.