As a reward for needlessly sullying Diddy’s reputation, Los Angeles Times reporter Chuck Philips will keep his day job. [NYT]

The Los Angeles Times has officially retracted its “Diddy knew about that attack on Tupac” story from Chuck Philips, admitting it got duped by imprisoned conman James Sabatino, hoping to save itself from a lawsuit, and making clear its reporting standards do not deserve Pulitzer Prizes. [LAT]

After publishing an article accusing Sean Combs of knowing about an 1994 assault on Tupac Shakur before it took place, based on facts later outed as completely false, the Los Angeles Times might find itself in a courtroom with Diddy’s lawyer. Or at least a conference room, working out a settlement agreement over defamation charges. Nothing is certain yet, but in a statement, Diddy’s attorney Howard Weitzman hinted legal action might be the next step: The “apology is, at best, a first step, but it doesn’t undo the false and defamatory nature of the story, or the suspicion and innuendo that Mr. Combs has had to endure due to these untruthful allegations and the irresponsible conduct of this particular reporter.” LAT owner Sam Zell might return to cursing just yet.

Here’s the Los Angeles Times‘ apology to Sean Combs for fingering him as involved in a 1994 assault on Tupac Shakur — an allegation made based on fake FBI documents journalist Chuck Philips received from con man James Sabatino. “In relying on documents that I now believe were fake, I failed to do my job,” said Philips in a statement. Interestingly, Philips is “an acquaintance” of Smoking Gun editor Bill Bastone, who helped expose the fraud. Says the LAT: “The two met not long ago for lunch, discussing their mutual passion for investigative reporting and other matters.” The apology appeared on today’s front page, below the fold.

Looks like the Los Angeles Times got hosed when Pulitzer winner (though not-always-trusted journalist) Chuck Philips accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of knowing about a 1994 attack on Tupac Shakur before it happened. Diddy, of course, denied the charge. As did the family of Chris Wallace/Notorious B.I.G. when Philips earlier accused the rapper of putting the hit on Tupac in ‘96.

And they had good reason: It’s likely none of it was true. The Times got its info from FBI documents that are now being labeled as fakes, concocted by jailed con man James Sabatino, who tried to fictitiously insert himself in the lives of hip-hop heads.

Diligent reporting from The Smoking Gun reveals the docs aren’t in any FBI database and that Sabtatino – “an audacious swindler who has created a fantasy world in which he managed hip-hop luminaries, conducted business with Combs, Shakur, Busta Rhymes, and The Notorious B.I.G., and even served as Combs’s trusted emissary to Death Row Records boss Marion ‘Suge’ Knight” – was able to distribute them himself by conveniently redacting the names of the federal agents working on the case. Too bad there are other ways to search for the files in the FBI’s records and, low and behold, they don’t turn up.

And also, just like the documents involved in the fall of Dan Rather, their physical elements are a giveaway. Cue an internal investigation at the LAT! And, maybe, a major libel suit from Diddy!

CONTINUED »

Do you have $30 to waste? Here’s the perfect opportunity to spend it: A “No Bitchassness” shirt by Diddy.

CONTINUED »

The Los Angeles Times hits today with a huge story accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of knowing the assault on Tupac Shakur, at his Quad City studio in New York, was coming weeks before it went down that in November ‘94, escalating the bi-coastal hip-hop war. (Tupac was fatally shot in 1996.)

Writing the article is none other than Chuck Philips, who previously alleged Chris Wallace/Notorious B.I.G. was the one who put the fatal hit out on Tupac. Wallace’s family vehemently denied those claims.

Philips maintains the New York-based rappers, who were supposed to be rivals themselves, knew there was going to be violence, but no shooting; only when Tupac pulled a gun did the plan go awry. And who was behind the shooting? Jimmy “Henchman” Rosemond, says Philips; Henchman now manages the career of The Game, among others.

Naturally, Diddy is already on the defensive. After refusing to comment for the LAT article, his label Bad Boy just issued us this statement: “This story is beyond ridiculous and is completely false. Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during, or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself. I am shocked that the Los Angeles Times would be so irresponsible as to publish such a baseless and completely untrue story.”

It’s our week-long duty to bring you a taste of Sundance, which is sort of like Taste of New York, except with more free swag and movies nobody is seeing.

And speaking of movies – you know, the reason Sundance exists – we’re told by one Sundance insider that “none of the celebs are here promoting their movies. Last year they all attended their screenings (at least premiere screenings) and this year there is almost nobody on the A-list that is attending those.”

Change, as the kids say, is in the wind. Add to the fact that, as one source tells it, “the celeb scene is not so great this year,” and it’s a recipe for gossip disaster. Like the disaster of Diddy’s performance at the MySpace party on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, we hear that there really is no reason to abandon NYC for Park City, since as of Sunday night:

Marquee was packed with the usual Monday night Butter scene (Scott Sartiano, Dhani Jones, top celeb publicists Greg Link of Fingerprint and Matt Hein of Eastside PR) while Tao was an overcrowded party with a rough crowd. Diddy was upstairs in VIP with an oversized posse, and the smell of pot the kept floating down to the main area seemed to be coming from their corner pretty consistently. Matisyahu (rappin’ reggae rabbi) got on stage for an impromptu performance and did two songs. Perez Hilton was roaming around (soooo hard to miss with that obnoxious pink hair) and was attached at the hip to Mike Satsky, the owner of stereo. CT from the real world was wearing the one outfit that he always wears on TV and looked greasier than ever.

And … then?

The after party that everyone talked about was the Heineken Light karaoke party, and people left at 4 even though it didn’t end til 5 (that’s a bad sign since usually everyone milks the parties until they are done).

Elsewhere, our spies file:

• DJ AM, spotted everywhere with Mandy Moore, is actually here on business: he’s spinning.

• Sienna Miller did an interview session at the Delta Sky Lodge, and Diddy proceeded to show up and persuade his way inside “because he wanted to see her.”

• The PM house hosted an after hours party in Deer Valley “that was so high maintenance. Super exclusive and you had to take a shuttle to get there.” Guests included Diddy, Jamie Lynn Spears, Damon Dash, Pharrell, Harvey Weinstein, Nick Cannon, Sienna Miller, Josh Hartnett.

• Among the most amusing movies that are screening: Farce of the Penguins, as March of the Penguins mock that was prescreened at the house of Fingerprint PR chief Greg Link. (Makes sense, since he had a few lines in the flick.)

While we waste away the week from the confines of our cold, barely insulated headquarters, we’ve made sure to place spies on the ground at Sundance, who are filing away from the cold, completely-lacking-insulation confines of Park City, Utah. From a smorgasbord of tips, we’ve compiled the following Sundance cheat sheet:

• Population: 80 percent dudes, 15 percent cougars, 5 percent other.

• At the Gen Art and Delta Sky Lodge Opening Party on Friday night, guests were virtually unwelcome — even those who paid extra for their VIP passes. Dustin “Screech” Diamond, however, was allowed entry (to watch his friend cripwalk on the dance floor), though his presence was likely due to the fact that there were no “real” celebrities in town yet.

• Also Friday night, a Diddy sighting! A spy spotted the rap mogul and his “entourage of ‘goons’ arriving at the token late night drunk food destination … His phone was glued to his face and he didn’t seem to care about the woman by his side, who did not seem to resemble his girlfriend by any means.”

• So far, the nightly MySpace parties at Tao “have actually been a bust.” One source says a “bunch of my friends had tables there and everything, and they still left after 30 minutes because it was horrible.”

• First day feel, summarized by a single overheard quoted uttered on Main Street: “Is that Gary Coleman?! In the cowboy hat? Why are they following him around?”

CONTINUED »

Scooter who? The real trial you should be paying attention to is Jacob “The Jeweler” Arabov’s, who holds the potential to deliver more celebrity fun than Diddy’s gun trial ever could.

And speaking of Diddy, he’s being called as a witness — along with Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and David Beckham, who supposedly can muster up a fraction of a defense in Jacob’s money-laundering ordeal. Only problem now, of course, is catering to celeb needs. Is it appropriate to produce a rider for this type of thing?

Brafman is trying to have the case moved to New York, which is home to many of the boldface witnesses he plans to call during the trial. “Trying to coordinate flying them into Detroit is a logistical nightmare that is beyond comprehension,” the lawyer said.

Getting this A-list clique to Detroit is indeed problematic. First, they’d have to find it on a map. Second, they’d have to find a Super Bowl party worth attending. Oh, that was last year? Sorry, Jacob … close, but no white gold 4.5 karat diamond cigar.

Oh that Daniel Boulud, so funny trying to pronounce P. Diddy (”P. Daddy”). Sitting down with SuChin Pak for LX.tv, the fancy restaurateur relives a visit by the rapper, who stopped by one day in his track suit and ordered his meal with white truffle — which, as you know, is quite expensive. But for the rapper-producer-fashionista, price is no matter, which gives us our favorite moment of the week: Daniel Boulud retelling the tale that includes “shave this bitch.”

In attempt to meet Mike Piazza, a Long Island kid posed as a reporter to get into the locker room and stalk his life-long hero. The impostor, Ryan Leli was not messin’ around. He had a fake press pass, a silver tongue, and reporter’s notebook … the security at Shea Stadium didn’t stand a chance.

Leli is a seemingly strange kid with an obsession with meeting celebrities. He’s not even honest about it, either, spending his days faking his way into backstage areas, locker rooms, and VIP clubs. His “collection” includes photos with Owen Wilson, Tom Cruise, and Diddy, who he somehow stalked down and begged for photos.

But this time, as he tried to capture a pic with his number one celeb, his planned failed.

On Friday, with a legitimate ticket in his pocket, he once again presented his phony NBC identification at the press gate, authorities said.

But this time, he never made it to the locker room to conduct more bogus interviews. Stadium security guards and detectives from the prosecutor’s office, who had been watching for him, moved in and arrested him.

The charges are pretty severe: petty larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal impersonation and trespassing.

If only he had worn coke-bottle glasses and a tweed jacket …

He’s 1-trick phony [Warren Woodberry, Robert Moore, Daily News]

• Because we respect people who are weird, musically gifted, and a little crazy (and not named Pete Doherty), we say R.I.P Syd Barret. [Billboard]

• Peddicab drivers get the best of Diddy. [P6]

• It’s hard for us to write this, but there’s a fella whose background disturbs Michael Jackson. [AP]

• We wonder, with all the surgeries and transplants that Keith Richards has gotten, how old is he really? [Mercury News]

What happens when you get young, party lovin’ celebrities and hip-hop moguls together in one tiny club for a Prince concert? Nobody watches the show, egos go through the roof, and you always get two versions of the gossip.

It all started with a spat between Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, which ended in La Lo following Paris into Butter’s bathroom — but instead of the girls scratching each others’ eyes out, nothing happened. The real drama unfolded when Lindsay returned to “her” table (as in, the table she was sitting at before getting up to pee/yell at Paris) and found Diddy and crew in her former spot.

So, what happened next? It obviously depends on who you ask.

Page Six claims that because there were only six tables, Diddy scooted in where Lindsay had left (how one 90 pound girl leaves room for a crew of rappers, we have no clue) and when she returned, she was not happy.

“Everyone was sharing, but Lindsay refused and began mixing it up with Puffy. His bodyguards came over and picked Lindsay up to get her out.” A member of Diddy’s camp confirmed, “Lindsay was being so loud and obnoxious. His security became concerned and came over to escort her away.”

Rush & Molloy, however, has a different account. Lindsay’s not the bitch. It was Diddy who was being the total ass.

She kidded with him, asking what he was doing at her table.”He didn’t realize she was joking,” says a source, “and he then yelled at her and told her to get out.”

Diddy “was really mean to her,” says another source, who claims one of Puffy’s bodyguards lifted up Lindsay, and the rapper himself got into a scuffle with a Lohan pal who defended her.

Now, if we could just this multitude of perspective in other areas of media coverage, we know Jack Shafer would be able to sleep better at night.

EVICTING LINDSAY [Page Six]
Lindsay, Paris and Diddy turn Prince concert into battle royal [Rush & Molloy]

One season of P. Diddy clothes for women was one season too much. The originally named Sean Combs has pulled the “Sean by Sean Combs” women’s line. The suspension will begin with the fall 2006 line.

We thought the launch of his new cologne line, Unforgivable, might prevent him from turning women into walking trash bags, but unfortunately, he has not given up. Diddy wants to focus on a Sean John women’s line.

“Our women’s has been delayed to next year because I want to get it right. But it will be incredibly sexy, strong, approachable and hot.”

Y’know, Diddy’s been talking about getting a women’s look off the ground since February 2000. Maybe he’s just having trouble grasping the concept of women putting their clothes on?

DADDY PULLS HIS WOMEN [Vogue UK]

• Production on Janet Jackson’s new album is almost complete but the first single probably won’t drop until February. Hopefully that’ll be enough time for Janet to get back into “wardrobe malfunction” shape. [Billboard]

• The Guardian asked some bands who they think is going to be the next big thing on the music scene. Popular responses included Architecture in Helenski and other bands you’ll probably never hear. [Guardian]

• The Shins are finally revealing details about their upcoming release. The album is tentatively titled Sleeping Lessons, so we’re going to go ahead and assume its going to be easy listening — a lot like their other albums. [Pitchfork]

• Adam Radwanski of Canada’s National Post ruminates on how narrow-minded the Grammy nominations are and goes so far to say of the Billboard Awards in comparison: “They may be soulless, but at least they’re not f—ing idiotic.” [Canada National Post]

• Diddy’s yet-to-be-named all-girl supergroup has been made. Watch out for these names, because maybe someday they will release an album before fading into obscurity: Aubrey O’Day, oh hell, that’s probably the only one you’ll ever need to know. [MTV, AubreyODay.com]

Yes, we know this pic of Diddy and Zac Posen dates way back to Fashion Week, but in this era of terror alerts and subway smells, we thought it’d be nice to treat you to some homoerotic loving between to fashion heavies on a Friday.

Match that, Jai and Rocco.

• Maybe it was the drugs, maybe it was the threeway with Jude Law and Sadie Frost and maybe, well, it was more drugs like that fist-sized lump of coke she snorted with Naomi Campbell, but yes, Kate Moss is out of that H&M gig. Oh, but that’s not the news! Rather, it’s that now ex-boyfriend Pete Doherty was spotted snogging another man.

• There will be no Comeback comeback for Lisa Kudrow. HBO has canned her post-Friends effort because of other “commitments,” otherwise known as “shitty ratings.” But the “we don’t care about ratings” network can’t say that, of course.

• Sarah Jessica Parker clocks in as Gotham’s highest-earning female with an estimated $38 million year (thanks, Gap!) followed by Kimora Lee Simmons (thanks, uh, Russell!).

• Naomi Campbell is usually tearing worlds apart, but her Fashion For Relief charity catwalk brought together the feuding Tyson Beckford and Diddy, who shook hands and hugged. Though we didn’t see Diddy hand Tyson that $600,000 check he owes him.

• To go with the imagined Louis Vuitton toilet paper is this actual (yes, they really make this) Dior toothpaste cozy. (via)

• Party photog Patrick McMullan might not wind up with his own reality show, by his own accord. His talks with New Line cooled when he started assessing the potential legal issues, as in getting the A-list to sign even more releases.

• And don’t forget to attend the WYSIWYG show on Sept. 27 (that’s a week from today!). Catch Jossip’s editor David Hauslaib waxing on his worst roommate experience that, in all hopefulness, will pale in comparison to yours. Read David’s interview at The Precog Blog and purchase your tickets in advance here. And while we’re dropping gratuitous plugs, today is also David’s birthday, so let the gift baskets commence.

This could’ve gone much, much worse. Thankfully, Martha Stewart’s introduction to spitting rhymes (and don’t we sound hip?) was led by Diddy’s “Rap 101″ instruction.

Martha got schooled on rap vernacular (”chedda,” “benjamins” and the somewhat sexually uncomfortable notion of “ballin’”) and avoiding the “jake” (that’s the police, winners). And it didn’t stop there: Diddy also helped her dance.

Lucky for her, audience members don’t have a choice in whether or not they applaud.

• Sensitivity challenged Kimberly Stewart strikes again. In the October issue of Stuff, the wanna-be starlet let loose on Heather Mills McCartney, the amputee and activist. “What has three legs and lives on a farm?” Rod Stewart’s daughter snarks. “Paul McCartney and his wife.” Now what has a saggy ass and pays for friends?

• We can’t decide whether Tara Reid is more famous for her awful boob job or her party girl antics, but E! settled the debate for us: She’s not famous enough, which is why they canned her Taradise.

• Overexposed author Bret Easton Ellis didn’t have quite the experience Anna Wintour did on the Today show. Instead of being quizzed by Matt Lauer (who split to Iraq), Katie Couric conducted the questioning, which left Ellis sneering: “She was such a bitch to me, I couldn’t believe it.” But the knees! Oh, the knees.

• Blinging up baby! The upcoming spawn of Britney Spears and K-Fed is going to be decked out in a designer wardrobe, courtesy Donatella Versace. No doubt Ms. Versace was enticed by the challenge of creating low riders and tacky T-shirts for the infant set.

• It’s 10 counts of fraud for Survivor’s first winner Richard Hatch, who notoriously omitted his $1 million winnings plus other compensation. He faces up to 75 years in prison — or eating two dozen balut eggs.

• Tonight’s hour-long Hurricane Katrina telethon won’t feature any special precautions, except for a five or seven second delay, to ward off any Kanye copycats. Or West himself, who’s on the roster.

• Voletta Wallace, mother of Notorious B.I.G., doesn’t have very nice things to say about her deceased son’s friends Sean Combs and Lil’ Kim, and she’s using her upcoming memoir to spit. As for Diddy: “Sean loved my son–after he was dead.”