A clip circulating online shows Sean "Diddy" Combs, then 33, inviting a 12-year-old Daveigh Chase to an "afterparty" backstage at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards. The video has resurfaced and gained traction following Chase's death on June 16 from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
In the footage, Combs presents Chase with the award for Best Villain for her role in the 2003 horror film "The Ring." After the presentation, Combs asks Chase if she is "coming to the after-party tonight," to which she nods, and Combs responds with laughter. The clip has drawn significant backlash on social media, with many users expressing concern and calling the interaction disturbing.
A representative for Combs previously stated in 2024 that the exchange was part of a scripted segment and has been misinterpreted. Chase never publicly commented on the clip.
Chase, who gained fame for her portrayal of Samara Morgan in "The Ring," died in a Los Angeles hospital. An autopsy report listed AIDS as the cause of death, with chronic polysubstance use also noted as a significant contributing condition. Her manner of death was listed as natural.
Chase's later years were reportedly marked by significant hardship. Her partner, Roy Hernandez, shared that they were homeless in the years leading up to her death and that she had faced a painful falling out with her family. He also detailed her struggles with health issues, including meningitis and serious blood infections, for which he had sought funding for her care.
Chase's manager, John Ryan, had reportedly been trying to locate her for several years. He stated that a search led them to Skid Row, where she may have been staying. Ryan had planned to support her in regaining her health, with arrangements being explored for rehabilitation.
Chase also appeared in other film and television projects, including "Lilo & Stitch," "Donnie Darko," and "Big Love." She gradually withdrew from public life after 2013, with her last social media activity in 2017 and her final red carpet appearance in April 2013.
Combs, whose real name is Sean Combs, has faced legal issues, including convictions for two counts of transportation for prostitution in violation of the federal Mann Act. In October 2025, he was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay a fine.