Recently the web has been abuzz with an interesting rumor that Sean Combs is going to sue Fox, the producer of the TV show, Empire. This is pretty hilarious when you think about it, but we can unpack it a bit in a moment. First I want to say that I realize there's a ton of preferred aliases out there for Mr. Combs; but I cut my teeth on late 80's, early 90's hip-hop so he'll always be Puffy in my mind. Anyways...I think we should keep Puffy's alleged threat to sue in context.
Imagine, if you will, being someone like Puff at the top of the food chain. He's got the old school street-connects with the dope game, the lavish lifestyle, jet setting Record Mogul calendar, and a full plate of beautiful honey-dips, complete with side-pieces! With all that in mind, anyone similarly blessed would look at a show like Empire from a thousand feet away and think,"Hey, that's my life!". Closer inspection, though, would show that Empire is not the contrived copy Puff would have us believe. Three things stand out to me as especially difficult for any future suit to overcome:
1. Lucious kills his long time friend Bunkie
Who is Bunkie, Puff? It is a significant event in the first season tale of the Lyon family patriarch, and it has yet to fully play out; but where would one draw parallels to Puffy's life? Is Bunkie a representation of Biggie? I don't think so since Bunkie was more of a partner in crime than artist. Plus, Puffy would never imply there are commonalities to his life and a story line saying he played a part in Biggie's death.
2. Lucious Lyon has a gay son
Who is gay, Puff? The record mogul portrayed by Howard has a gay son; and is not too pleased by his homosexuality. Puffy has six children total but only two of those above the age of consent, or sexual maturity. Justin is 20 and adopted son Quincy is 22. Are we to believe one of these young men is gay or that Puffy would be willing to out them for a lawsuit? I don't think so.
3. Who is Puffy's Cookie?
Who is Cookie, Puff? With well known baby-mamas Misa, Sarah Chapman, and Kim Porter all safely out of harm's way and free of drug charges or prison time. Certainly the young jump-off, Cassie, is not remotely our beloved Cookie. No, there.s no parallels here. It is more likely hat Empire is a loose continuation of Hustle and Flow than a loose biopic of Sean Combs.
That's my opinion anyways. Feel free to form your own. I'm the Average Black Man and that's my 2cts.
