Who Was Kim Porter? All About Diddy's Ex and Mother of 4 of His Children

Mar. 15, 2025

Kim Porter and Sean “Diddy” Combs attend Sean “Diddy” Combs Exclusive Birthday Celebration Presented By CIROC Vodka on November 22, 2015.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Sean “Diddy” Combsshared four children with his former partner Kim Porter before her death in 2018.

The rapper and Porter first began dating in the 1990s as he was coming up in the hip-hop industry. Before she met Combs, Porter was already a mother to Quincy Brown, who she welcomed in 1991 with producer Al B. Sure!. When Quincy was 3, Porter began dating Combs, who eventually raised him as his own.

Porter and Combs welcomed their first child together, Christian Combs, in 1998 but broke up just a year later, battling for custody in court. The couple later reconciled in 2003, welcoming twin daughters, D’Lila Star Combs and Jessie James Combs, in 2006. However, they split for good in 2007.

On Nov. 15, 2018, Porter wasfound dead in her homeat 47 years old. An autopsy report later revealed she died oflobar pneumonia.

In September 2024, Combs was arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. This was after the Department of Homeland Securityraided his homein March and he admitted tophysically assaultingR&B singer Cassie in May.

Amid Combs' legal troubles,Chris Todd, who has no connection to the family, self-published a memoir for Porter on Amazon titledKIM’S LOST WORDS.Porter’s children have sincedenied the book’s legitimacy.

“Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue,” they said in a statement on Instagram. “She did not. And anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves.”

From her turbulent relationship with Combs to her modeling and acting career, here’s everything to know about Kim Porter, Combs’ ex.

She was a model and actress

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Kim Porter attend Sean “P. Diddy” Combs 35th Birthday Celebration on November 4 2004 in New York City.Peter Kramer/Getty

Peter Kramer/Getty

Porter was born in Columbia, Ga., on Dec. 15, 1970. After graduating from high school in 1988, Porter moved to Atlanta to pursue a modeling career, having gotten her start in the industry as a teenager.

Her career soon expanded from modeling to acting as she starred in 2001’sThe Brothersand 2006’sThe System Within.

Porter began dating Combs in the 1990s

Sean Combs and Kimberly Porter during a New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 1994.Nitro/Getty

Nitro/Getty

When Combs met Porter, she had just walked into Uptown Records, where he was doing A&R, with her ex-boyfriend, producer and singer Al B. Sure!.

“The first time I saw her, she was at the studio with her ex-boyfriend,” Combs toldEssencein December 2006. “I wasn’t trying to holler at her or anything, but I was admiring her — her lips, her eyes, her mouth, her shape, her energy — and thinking, ‘I wish I had a girl like that.’ "

“We went out together, we ate together, we played together,” Porter said. “He would want me at the office; I would want him at my shoots. Our bond was so tight.”

Porter and Combs broke up after welcoming their first son together

Kim Porter and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs during Kim Porter’s birthday party hosted By Sean “P. Diddy” Combs at Canal Room in New York City, New York.Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

In 1998, the couple welcomed their first child together, Christian, but they split the same year after Combs began an affair withJennifer Lopez.

While Porter’s family and friends rushed to her side to support her, she toldEssencethat she didn’t have time to crumble emotionally as she was caring for a newborn — but she did kick Combs out of their shared home.

“He would say he needed to see his son, but I was at a place where just the sight of him would turn my stomach,” Porter said. “My feeling was, you made this decision, now stay over there. I can’t repeat everything I said at the time, because it’s really not that ladylike. But I was very expressive about it.”

“He left him bleeding on a hotel floor in Italy,” Stewart’s mother, Portia, reportedly toldRolling Stone. “He had to have stitches and then [Combs] threatened him … ‘I’m going to kill you’ … That’s when I said you need to get out of this business. This man is crazy.”

She raised four children with Combs

Justin Dior Combs, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kim Porter, D’Lila Star Combs, Jessie James Combs, Quincy Brown, Al B. Sure!, and Christian Casey Combs on October 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.Charley Gallay/Getty

Charley Gallay/Getty

Despite their turbulent relationship in the 1990s and early aughts, Porter and Combs got back together in 2003 and welcomed their twins, D’Lila and Jessie, on Dec. 21, 2006. Porter had a close relationship with each of her children, with Quincy telling PEOPLE in April 2023 that he planned to continue honoring her legacy after her death.

“I’m my mom’s son, so therefore there’s so much life for me to expand on off of her life. And that journey hasn’t even started yet, which is the best part about it,” he said. “What my mom’s legacy is representative of is beyond words. That’s gonna really come to life soon.”

Quincy also has a close relationship with his younger sisters, telling PEOPLE he naturally took on a managerial role in their life as they embarked on their own creative paths.

“We don’t need no contracts, no paper, but I’m my sisters' manager,” he said. “I’m like, the uncle- dad-manager-protector, I’m claiming it. I want to be able to really guide them. I want them to really know the layers of everything you can do.”

Quincy went on to become an actor and singer, even collaborating with his brother Christian, who makes music under the moniker King Combs. Meanwhile, D’Lila and Jessie graduated high school in 2024.

Porter had a public breakup with Combs

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and wife Kim Porter arrive at the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala on December 5, 2004 in Washington, DC.Evan Agostini/Getty

Evan Agostini/Getty

“In ending this relationship, I made a decision that was in the best interest of myself, Sean and our family,” Porter said in a statement at the time of the split. “We will remain friends and committed parents to our children.”

She opened up more about her decision in an interview withEssence, sharing that she found out Combs impregnated his friend from a girlfriend, rather than him. While she was hurt at his betrayal, she said she was more hurt that he didn’t own up to it and tell her himself.

She added that Combs eventually did tell her about his infidelity — but only after the twins were born.

“He told me that he may have gotten himself into a situation and he may have fathered another child outside the relationship and I said, ‘Really? Well, I already knew. I’m glad you decided to be a man,’ " Porter said. “I was like, ‘Dude, this is so wack I can’t even respect you right now.’ And for me, once the respect is gone, I’m not even listening to you.”

She died in 2018 of lobar pneumonia

Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kim Porter during the 2006 BET Awards.J. Strauss/FilmMagic

J. Strauss/FilmMagic

Though the exes had a public breakup, Porter and Combs remained friendly throughout the years, turning up to events to support their children together. However, in November 2018, Porter died suddenly from lobar pneumonia.

She was found dead in her home after Los Angeles County officers responded to a death investigation at her Toluca Lake, Calif. Home.

source: people.com