Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was known for throwing some of the most extravagant parties in entertainment. Once celebrated for his lavish White Parties and A-list guest lists, Combs faced federal charges in 2025. Now, we’re looking back at Combs’ July 4th party in 2004. The celebration came complete with fireworks, celebrity attendees, and a surprising centerpiece: an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. Here’s what to know about the star-studded event.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs once had the Declaration of Independence at his 4th of July party
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Sean “Diddy” Combs hosted his famed Fourth of July White Party at his East Hampton estate in 2004. Once a staple of early-2000s celebrity culture, the White Party — where guests dress head-to-toe in white — was known for drawing A-listers from music, film, and fashion to lavish settings in the Hamptons or Beverly Hills. The party featured a bold historical flourish: the display of a rare original copy of the Declaration of Independence. The copy was one of only 26 known Dunlap broadsides from 1776. The juxtaposition of national symbolism and luxury celebration struck a surreal tone. And it cast a complicated shadow over what was once one of hip-hop’s most iconic social events.
During an interview with Vogue, Combs recalled having the Declaration of Independence at his party. He clocked it as one of his most over-the-top stunts.
“And if you had to recall the most lavish, over-the-top, outrageously extravagant decoration on display, what would it be?” the interviewer asked.
“One time, I had the Declaration of Independence in one of my Fourth of July parties,” the mogul said. “It was a Fourth of July white party. And the White Party’s coming back this year, by the way, for charity.”
In 2004, Combs “promised” not to spill champagne on the document.
“No one would ever expect a young Black man to be coming to a party with the Declaration of Independence, but I got it and it’s coming with me,” Combs said, according to USA Today. “And I promise not to spill champagne on it.”
Many A-listers attended Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ July 4th White Party in 2004
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legendary White Parties were spectacles that defined an era of celebrity excess and influence. First launched in the late 1990s and reaching peak cultural cachet in the early 2000s, the all-white dress code became a symbol of exclusivity and elegance. Held in locales like the Hamptons and Beverly Hills, the parties drew a who’s who of music, fashion, sports, and Hollywood.
According to USA Today, Aretha Franklin, Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian attended Combs’ July 4th bash in 2004. And those watching Combs’ federal trial in 2025 believed the prosecution was ready to call any of these big names. However, Combs’ trial, which resulted in a conviction of just two counts, didn’t involve any A-lister testimony.
The mogul’s Independence Day party coincided with his political initiative, Citizen Change
In the lead-up to the 2004 presidential election, Sean “Diddy” Combs launched Citizen Change. This political initiative aimed to mobilize young voters, particularly in Black and brown communities, who were historically underrepresented at the polls. With its provocative slogan, “Vote or Die!” the campaign blended hip-hop swagger with civic urgency. Combs and other organizers used T-shirts, celebrity endorsements, and media appearances to drive home the importance of voting.
“I think that young people love and respect and trust Puffy,” entrepreneur and record executive Russell Simmons said about the initiative, according to a clip posted to Reddit. “Certainly more than they do George Bush, or even John Kerry, for that matter!”
“We are going to motivate, we are going to educate, and we are going to empower 35 million young people and minorities in America,” Combs said in 2004.
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