USA: P. Diddy inks vodka promotion deal; says assualt claim is overblown

Rapper turned entrepreneur Sean "P Diddy" Combs announced on Wednesday (October 24) that he signed a deal to endorse Ciroc "super-premium vodka," which could earn him more than $100 million dollars (USD). Combs said he would be responsible for everything from marketing the brand to deciding where to sell it and will also cash in on 50 percent of the profits, which he categorizes as making "history." "Over the past ten years I have been offered to do my own champagne, tequila, beer, rum, moonshine and vodka," Combs told reporters. "But it wasn't until I tasted Ciroc that I found what I was looking for. Ciroc is not only a ultra premium vodka, it also embodies luxury." Combs says this is more than just an endorsement deal and he plans to be involved with marketing and branding on a regular basis. As for why he chose Ciroc -- Combs says it's all about the flavor. "Ciroc is made from the finest French grapes. Most vodka are made from the grains of potatoes. Now I don't know about you, but if I had the choice to drink potatoes grains or French grapes, me myself I would like to drink grapes." Asked about an accusation that he assaulted a man at a New York City nightclub earlier this month, Combs says "that incident did not happen - it was totally blown out of proportion. I'm sorry the papers had to waste so much ink on it - I don't fight over girls." Diddy came in third on the Forbes.com "Hip-Hop Cash Kings" list in August with estimated earnings of $28 million (USD) in the past year. Forbes.com added that "Diddy's camp insists we have undervalued his 2006 income." He runs Bad Boy Entertainment, owns the Sean John clothing label, has a cologne licensed to Estee Lauder and is an MTV television producer.

ITN Source | October 25, 2007

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