The unfortunately-still-everywhere phrase “No Diddy” has made its way into churches.
At least, that was recently the case during a livestreamed service at a Seventh-day Adventist university in Alabama earlier this month. The phrase, in fact, was utilized more than a dozen times during the Oct. 3 service, one particular moment from which has recently started making the usual rounds on social media.
Toward the end of the video below, you’ll see Pastor Robert Edwards returning to the stage to speak to students at Oakwood University, a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist university in Huntsville. The facility is self-billed as aiming to provide students with a “quality Christian education,” with accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
“I’m speaking to the OU Live students now,” Edwards, whose remarks were preceded by a talk from Dr. MyRon Edmonds titled “No Diddy,” said. “I know you’re trying to make a decision. Even while you are here, you may have to say ‘No Diddy’ to an Oakwood student. I’m just being real. You’ll have to make an individual decision about your life and what you are going to do.”Play
Edwards continued with a personal anecdote on his own decision as a 19-year-old to vow to “never have sex with a woman” until he was married, stating that he was then tested after joining the church by “girls who were running out of time.” According to Edwards, he didn’t have sex until he was married; furthermore, he said that he didn’t kiss his wife until they were both at the altar.
“Without pre-kissing, I’ve been married 40 years,” he said. “No Diddy.”
The phrase, despite unfortunate undertones of homophobia, has been a frequent presence on social media and beyond amid Diddy’s mounting legal issues. In September, the Bad Boy Records founder was arrested in New York. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including trafficking and racketeering, with a previous statement from his attorney calling him “an innocent man.”
Back in April, Gucci Mane rapped “No Diddy” 119 times in his song “TakeDat,” the video for which included several visual nods to Biggie’s “Big Poppa.”
