Reginald VelJohnson Responds to Dave Chappelle’s ‘SNL’ Jokes About Him Partying With Diddy
Former Family Matters star Reginald VelJohnson says he still does not know the origins of a fabricated story about himself supposedly having attended a party thrown by disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. And VelJohnson also had no idea that Dave Chappelle would tell a comedic version of it while hosting the most recent episode of Saturday Night Live.
VelJohnson tells The Hollywood Reporter that he wishes he didn’t have to be reminded of the unfounded rumor that spread on social media last year about his supposed presence at one of Diddy’s so-called “freak-off” parties, where drug use, sexual assault and sex trafficking allegedly took place. (Shortly after the story first surfaced last year, VelJohnson dismissed it as false.)
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That said, the actor — known for the Die Hard franchise and for playing lovable dad Carl Winslow on the 1990s sitcom Family Matters — found Chappelle’s telling of the story to be done in a humorous and respectful way.
“That stuff that came out is so false, but I have to hear it every now and then,” VelJohnson says about the story claiming he partied with Diddy. “But Dave Chappelle made it funny, and I really appreciate that. That was really cool. He made it seem very civil.”
The actor, whose more recent television projects include competing last year on Dancing With the Stars, had not been aware that Chappelle would talk about him in the monologue. Although he hasn’t spoken to Chappelle about the bit, VelJohnson does not harbor any ill will toward the comedian.
“It was kinda nice to see him talk about me,” VelJohnson says graciously. “I just wish he was talking about something a little bit better than that stupid lie with Diddy. But he made it funny, and I appreciate that. It made me look good.”
VelJohnson clarifies that he has never met Diddy and has no inkling why such a story would have been concocted. Diddy was arrested in September and has been in jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The rapper has pleaded not guilty and denied all of the allegations.
“I have no idea why they started that,” VelJohnson says. “I don’t know why, and it will never go away. I never even met the man. I have no idea what they’re talking about. I just pay it no mind and keep on doing what I do. I have no idea why they put me connected with it.”
During his monologue that aired Saturday, Chappelle said that he has never been invited to party with Diddy. The comedian, who is known for writing his own SNL monologues, then joked that he assumed he didn’t make the guest list because he’s ugly.
“I saw one thing on the internet, so I’m not sure that it’s true — probably doubt it’s true,” Chappelle continued. “But I saw it, some guy who said he knew Puffy [and] was like, ‘Yeah, man, I was at the freak-off one time, and Puff was in there with Carl Winslow, the dad from Family Matters. He was smashing, and I was like, Puff, what are you doing? And he was like, Yeah, feels good to make another man do your bidding.'”
Chappelle quipped, “And I was like, ‘Carl Winslow from Family Matters was there, and I wasn’t invited? It’s worse than I thought.'”
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