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Aubrey O’Day Says Danity Kane ‘Had to Learn Everything the Hard Way’ After Diddy ‘Broke Us Up’
Not holding back. Aubrey O’Day blames former Danity Kane manager Sean “Diddy” Combs for splitting up the popular girl group in 2008. “Diddy broke us up in the height of our fame on national television, on MTV,” the 35-year-old told Us Weekly on Wednesday, July 17, while speaking about the reboot of Making the Band.
The blonde beauty wants to explain to viewers how far the band has come since they have certainly experienced a lot of drama over the years. “I want to talk about what we’re going through because I think what Danity Kane has gone through since then is so powerful for women, for people, for artists,” she said. “We have had to learn everything the hard way since we were broken up by [Diddy] on national television.”
Even though the girls — Dawn Richard, Aundrea Fimbres, Wanita “D. Woods” Woodgett and Shannon Bex — split up, they now have a lot of love for one another. “I think that it’s so interesting to be in a multi-racial group [whose members experience] being a woman in such different ways but have all grown to a place where we are truly bonded and family,” she said. “We’re here, and we don’t have cameras following us, and I think that story is more interesting.”
The pop group was formed as part of the MTV show in 2005 but in 2008, the 49-year-old music producer fired Aubrey and D. Woods on the season 3 finale. “Check this out, baby girl,” Diddy said to Aubrey at the time. “See, your attitude is gonna have you in a dark and lonely place … What you need to do, at the end of the day, is humble yourself.”
However, the “I’ll Be Missing You” crooner said that he had no ill will towards the “Wrecking Ball” songstress. “I got love for Aubrey. I don’t have any beef with her,” he said. “I just want to work with the young lady that I signed, not the person that fame has made her.”
Shannon, 39, returned to the show the following season, but Aundrea was later kicked out by Diddy, too. The group reunited in May 2013 without Diddy or D. Woods, but then parted ways again after Aubrey got into an alleged physical altercation with Dawn, 35. But the women made amends since Dawn, Shannon and Aubrey reunited for their first tour in four years in August 2018.
“We have been through a journey of a lot of ups and downs, but on any journey, ya know, it requires the people involved to not be willing to let go of each other, and that’s what we’re on so, we’re super grateful to be back in each other’s lives,” Aubrey told E! News at the time. “To have survived the last round and truly come together as sisters and do it for ourselves and also the fans.”
Dawn also agreed with Aubrey’s statement, explaining, “We’re sisters at the end of the day, and I think if you go through life, you still remember, like, I really want a relationship with these girls even though you go through things. You really want that camaraderie, and so, Aubrey and I had a great conversation.”
Shannon added, “The chemistry is pretty incredible, and you can’t make that stuff up, so just enjoying the fans and being back together as a family, fans included.”
Meanwhile, Diddy announced on Monday, July 15, that he was bringing the hit show back to MTV. “MAKING THE BAND DECISION,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’ve made my decision … #MakingTheBand is coming back!!! This will be a global talent search. Upload your auditions now using #MTBcasting!! @makingtheband.”
Hmm … Maybe Aubrey and Diddy can air out their differences on TV!
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