Fonzworth Bentley’s Real Name: Diddy’s Former Assistant Turned Music and Acting Star

Sean “Diddy”Combs has built an extensive career in rap music, frequently changing his stage name along the way. He initially adopted the name Puffy, a nickname from his childhood, before evolving to Puff Daddy in 1995.

His transformation continued in March 2001 when he rebranded himself as P. Diddy. It was during this period that he introduced his personal assistant, Fonzworth Bentley, to the public, who became famous for holding Diddy’s umbrella.

Bentley, originally named Derek Watkins, hails from Atlanta, Georgia.

How Fonzworth Bentley Met Diddy

Watkins completed his education in Atlanta and graduated from Morehouse College. A talented violinist in his youth, not much information is publicly available regarding his life before meeting Diddy in 2001. In an interview with The New York Times on March 21, 2004, Bentley revealed that he was managing the Eleven Madison Park restaurant when he first crossed paths with the famed rapper.

Their initial meeting occurred at “Diddy’s soul-food restaurant in Chelsea,”where they exchanged contact information. At the time, Diddy was facing a trial for bribery and gun possession charges, and Bentley offered his support by sending encouraging Bible verses via email.

A few months post-trial, after a favorable ruling for Sean, Bentley playfully texted, “Please don’t make me go back to my hater boss.”He was promptly hired in response. Bentley recounted that moment, stating:

”I remember the day exactly. It’s going to be in the movie about my life. Sean waved his hands in my face and said, ‘Your life has just changed. Are you ready?’”

It was Diddy who also created the name Fonzworth Bentley for Watkins. While he later described it as “the most sickening thing”during an interview, the name ultimately became iconic. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the name draws inspiration from Bootney Lee Farnsworth, a character from the classic 1975 film, Let’s Do It Again.

Bentley clarified misconceptions about his role, stating he wasn’t Diddy’s butler but rather his personal assistant. His responsibilities included waking Diddy up, fetching his caramel macchiatos from Starbucks, fielding phone calls, managing his luggage, and selecting his outfits. He was also involved in the rapper’s business meetings.

The media often portrayed Bentley in a “manservant”role, which led to some negative comments online. However, he remained unfazed, saying in an interview:

“A pioneer always looks crazy until he finds dry land.”

It was a 2001 photograph of Bentley with Diddy that catapulted him to fame. Reflecting on its impact, he mentioned:

“That picture was the biggest marketing campaign that any unknown has ever launched. Jay Leno talked about that picture, so did Regis and Kelly. It was in Time, Newsweek, People. It made me famous overnight.”

Following his hiring, Bentley made his rapping debut on the track “Cheers to Me, Mr. Bentley,”from Da Band’s debut album released in 2002. He later made a cameo in Kanye West’s “The New Workout Plan”in 2004.

Bentley was also featured in then-Senator Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, performing violin on the track, “Yes We Can.”

He began his television career with “Making the Band 2″in 2002 and later appeared in projects including “Fade to Black”(2004), “Borrow My Crew”(2005), “Before, During, and After the Sunset”(2005), and “VH1 Fashion Rocks”(2006). His last known television role was hosting “From Gs to Gents”on MTV in 2008. In April 2011, he released his debut album, “C.O.L.O.U.R.S.”

While Bentley has not made prominent public appearances since 2011, he has been happily married to actress Faun Chambers, and together they have two children: a son named Daniel Watkins and a daughter named Zoie Alecia Watkins.

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