Who's Your Diddy? Sean 'Diddy' Combs' New Ad Sparks Controversy

Who's Your Diddy? Sean 'Diddy' Combs' New Ad Sparks Controversy

Racy or Raunchy?? You Decide If It's Unforgivable

Wednesday, Jan 18th & Thursday, Jan. 19th 2:30pm - 2:45pm ET 10:45am - 11:00am ET (11:30am - 11:45am PT) (7:45am - 8:00am PT)

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NEW YORK, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Sean "Diddy" Combs smells of controversy these days as the ads for his newest fragrance "Unforgivable," were rejected by the majority of retailers across the country. Many stores, especially in the conservative Midwest and Bible Belt, refused to display them, deeming them too "hot" and "raunchy". The ad has Combs lying in bed with a white woman and Asian women, giving the impression that they'd just had sex. Estee Lauder, the fragrance's parent company, has responded to the store's concerns by re-shooting a new "store-friendly" ad. The original is still being used in magazines and on billboards.

"People are afraid of what they don't understand."
- Sean "Diddy" Combs

"We believe the ads represent the true spirit of Unforgivable. This fragrance is about a man who lives his life with passion and unapologetically, we respect Sean Combs' creative perspective and support him in his vision. While it's unfortunate that some retailers were so uncomfortable with something with that much sexual presence, we respect their decision to do what is right for them."

- John Demsey, Global President,
Estee Lauder

Sean John Fragrances is a division of Make-Up Art Cosmetics, Inc., which is a subsidiary the Estee Lauder Companies Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company's products are sold in over 130 countries and territories under well-recognized brand names, including Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Origins, M-A-C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Stila, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, Rodan + Fields, American Beauty, Flirt!, Good Skin(TM), Donald Trump The Fragrance and Grassroots.

B-ROLL: Controversial Ad, "Store Friendly" Ad, Statements by Sean "Diddy" Combs and John Demsey, Behind-the-scenes of the ad photo shoot; beauty shots of fragrance.

Source: MAC

CONTACT: Robin Applebaum of Dogmatic, +1-646-336-7977,
robin@dogmatic.com, for MAC

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