Despite the recent legal troubles facing Sean “Diddy” Combs, Sting remains unfazed about how these issues may reflect on one of his most iconic songs, “Every Breath You Take.” Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Sting addressed whether the allegations against Combs have changed his view of the song that Combs famously sampled in 1997 for the tribute track, “I’ll Be Missing You.”
Sting Unbothered by Controversy Surrounding 1997 Sample
“No,” Sting responded simply when asked if the charges impact his perception of the song. “I mean, I don’t know what went on [with Diddy], but it doesn’t taint the song at all for me. It’s still my song.”
Originally released by The Police in 1983, “Every Breath You Take” spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the only No. 1 single from the band’s discography. Fourteen years later, Combs, along with Faith Evans and the R&B group 112, reimagined the track as a tribute to the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., sparking renewed success. “I’ll Be Missing You” stayed at No. 1 for eleven weeks, becoming a Grammy-winning classic and generating an enduring revenue stream for Sting.
Though Combs hadn’t secured permission to sample the track initially, he and Sting later reached an arrangement. In a 2018 interview on The Breakfast Club, Sting humorously claimed he was compensated at a rate that has allowed him to “put a couple of [his] kids through college.” Combs, however, recently clarified that his own statement about paying $5,000 daily royalties was an exaggeration, tweeting, “It’s called being facetious.”
Combs is now facing serious legal challenges, including charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and forced labor. Despite these allegations, Sting’s stance remains unchanged. He noted that fans continue to “absolutely” appreciate “Every Breath You Take,” as its place in musical history has endured over decades.
Sting’s latest comments underscore his resilience in the face of ongoing controversy surrounding Combs. His response to the allegations emphasizes a commitment to his art over any controversies surrounding those who have been inspired by it. “The song’s legacy,” he said, “is untouched by anything else.”