For one night time 25 years and 35 kilos in the past, I used to be millionaire financier Ted Ammon.
It was July 3, 1999, and I used to be a 22-year-old cub reporter for the East Hampton Star. Whereas drying off after a fast surf session at Bridgehampton’s Mecox Seashore, I overheard two males speaking about needing to get dwelling to “prepare for Puffy’s barbecue.”
At the moment, lengthy earlier than his current intercourse trafficking indictment, presently-jailed hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs responded to “Puff Daddy.” His star-studded events have been a factor of legend.
Smelling of the seaside, I sprinted to my 1991 Volkswagen Jetta and headed towards Diddy’s 4,500-square-foot waterfront mansion in East Hampton. My sole intention was to face outdoors and jot down the names of arriving company for a doable story.
By no means would I’ve imagined I’d find yourself partying effectively into the night time with hip-hop legends like Jay-Z, and Hamptons scenesters like designer Betsey Johnson.
Carrying a wrinkled shirt I discovered balled up on my again seat, I stood with the handfuls of followers, paparazzi, and lookie-loos assembled alongside Hedges Banks Drive.
“You wanna get in?” requested a lovely blonde who walked as much as me.
“You realize it,” I replied.
“Nice. Hear,” she began. “So, you’re title is Ted Ammon and I’m your visitor, cool?”
I nodded.
Moments earlier than approaching me, the younger girl had noticed “Ted Ammon +1″ on Puffy’s visitor checklist whereas standing close to one of many safety guards.
“It was on the second web page,” I recall her telling me proudly.
Creepily, Ammon could be discovered murdered inside his Hamptons property nearly two years later, on Oct. 22, 2001. He’d been bludgeoned to loss of life in his mattress by his estranged spouse’s electrician boyfriend. The society-murder case made headlines for years.
After we cleared safety, the unknown girl made a beeline for the yard bar, bypassing the Mr. Softie truck parked within the driveway. I didn’t make the identical mistake.
The R&B music was deafening, pumped out by 20 audio system unfold throughout the yard. Within the DJ sales space was A Tribe Known as Quest‘s Q-Tip. The air smelled like Willie Nelson’s tour bus. Bare and topless girls stuffed the swimming pool, and fashions handed out champagne..
The road for meals was agonizingly gradual, however value it: I’ve but to discover a better-tasting scorching canine.
The entire servers have been white, wearing golf shirts bearing a “PD” insignia. Jugglers and magicians walked round, and scantily-glad girls gyrated atop picket platforms.
Diddy was ever-present, wearing white with gold chains draped round his neck and a bottle of bubbly in hand. He posed for pictures with rapper Busta Rhymes, mogul Russell Simmons, Ivanka Trump, comic Invoice Bellamy, actor Tyson Beckford, and “Baywatch” stars Carmen Electra and Elisa Bridges.
Solely the well-known company have been allowed inside Puffy’s dwelling, a manse he offered in 2020 for $4.7 million.
By no means as soon as was I questioned that night, and in order the night time unfolded, I bought bolder. I flirted with Carmen Electra. I bought a contact excessive from hanging out with Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes. Betsey Johnson squeezed my cheeks like an annoying aunt.
I even thanked Diddy for throwing “one hell of a celebration,” and shook the person’s hand. His two-word response? “Okay, yeah.”
I noticed no lubricant, no intercourse toys, and no “pink cocaine.” I did see a couple of individuals handed out, together with the lady who helped me get inside. I don’t know if Ted Ammon ever confirmed up for the shindig, however I prefer to assume he did.
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