Fonzworth Bentley, once known as Diddy’s impeccably dressed assistant and the epitome of gentlemanly charm in the early 2000s, is now facing serious allegations from a former Bad Boy Records artist. In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue, Da Band member Chopper accused Bentley of stealing a $72,000 chain from him, painting a much different picture of the man who once served as hip-hop’s most refined right-hand man.
Chopper, the New Orleans native who rose to fame on Making the Band 2, detailed his experience, alleging that Bentley’s reputation behind the scenes was far from his polished public persona. “In the beginning, I thought Mr. Bentley was the coolest person in the world. I’m talking about the coolest person in the world,” Chopper said. “And then eventually, Bentley started stealing.”
He recounted the alleged incident, explaining that he purchased an expensive chain after receiving an advance check. Trusting Bentley, he asked him to hold onto it before a performance, only for the chain to vanish. “I asked him could he hold my chain [because] we had a show and he was like, ‘Yeah, I got you.’ And then he never quite gave me back my chain,” Chopper claimed. “And then every time I’d ask him, he always came up with beaucoup excuses of why I can’t get my chain.”
Chopper didn’t hold back in his assessment of Bentley’s reputation within Diddy’s circle, alleging that others were also aware of his behavior. “Ever since then, I knew right then and there what kind of dude Mr. Bentley was. A f**king thief. Mr. Bentley is a f**king thief. Period. And that was his reputation too around there. Everybody knew Mr. Bentley was a thief. He used to steal sh*t.”
While no formal charges or legal actions have been reported regarding the alleged theft, Chopper speculated on what may have driven Bentley to such actions, suggesting that Diddy may not have fairly compensated him for his work. “Maybe he was stealing sh*t because Diddy probably wasn’t compensating him—embarrassing the man on national TV and not really paying him what he needed to pay him. I don’t think Diddy had no respect for Mr. Bentley. None.”
Bentley, best known for his signature umbrella and refined demeanor, has not yet responded to the accusations. While these claims remain unverified, they add another layer of controversy to the legacy of Bad Boy Records and its former associates.
