Former ‘SNL’ Star Reflects on Diddy’s Strict Set Rules and Will Ferrell’s Prank
Ana Gasteyer, known for her time on “Saturday Night Live,” has unflattering memories of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ visit to the show.
During an episode of the “Las Culturistas” podcast, Gasteyer discussed how Combs, who appeared as the musical guest in a 1998 episode, demanded that cast members remain in their dressing rooms. She described him as someone who projected an exaggerated sense of importance.
“He really did take over the whole place,” she said, noting, “He insisted on having a completely closed set.”
Gasteyer felt such restrictions were something one might expect for a presidential guest, remarking, “Other than that, it’s my space.”
Gasteyer mentioned that the set was off-limits starting the Thursday before the show while Combs practiced for his song “Come with Me,” which included a sample from Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” However, despite his closed set request, Will Ferrell decided to lighten the mood by crashing Combs’ rehearsal dressed as his character “Ron.”
“The writers suggested it would be hilarious if Ron just walked in,” Gasteyer recounted. “And he did! I have the footage from the control room where Sean Combs is performing, and Ron is just wandering around looking confused.”
“It was the best moment ever because it was so fitting for him to have his ‘Kashmir’ moment disrupted by Ron. Combs definitely seemed uncomfortable with it,” she added.
Ferrell recalled this incident in a 2020 video for the “SNL” YouTube channel, which included clips of him interrupting the rehearsal.
“We were watching Puff Daddy rehearse when someone suggested Ron should go on stage. Before anyone could react, I bolted out the door,” Ferrell explained.
Following Diddy’s arrest in September due to a sex trafficking probe, more public figures have been re-evaluating their past interactions with him.
In a TikTok, Rosie O’Donnell, a former neighbor of Combs, expressed her surprise at the allegations and recounted a time when he graciously rented a movie theater for her family after they were denied entry to his party.
“I might be naive, but I often think, how can someone carry on as a public figure while knowing they’ve done something wrong? Didn’t he feel like the law was closing in on him?” O’Donnell reflected.
Combs has denied all allegations of sexual assault against him.
Regarding “Saturday Night Live,” the show has frequently parodied Combs during his ongoing legal troubles. In a recent “Weekend Update” segment, Michael Che humorously noted, “Last month, the U.S. added 245,000 new jobs—unfortunately, they were all ‘Diddy accusers.'”