Diplo has been trending on Twitter following allegations that he’s living with 19-year-old TikTok star Quenlin Blackwell. It all started with Blackwell, who has 4.1 million followers on the application, who posted a series of videos of herself with the Mississippi native and Grammy-award winning DJ. In one, the pair are seen dancing together with the caption, “When you dont have to pay rent” while another has Blackwell saying, “I live with Diplo right now, and he fully supports my endeavors.”
quen blackwell and diplo being roommates is one of the more odd things to happen in 2020 which says a lot pic.twitter.com/MYXMPd2MQq
— olivia (@metaIbendings) October 21, 2020
Of course, considering the age gap ( Diplo turns 42 in November, making them 23 years apart), Twitter users blew up the young adults mentions and media reports that Diplo was “grooming” the TikTok star started surfacing. However, both artists have since spoken up about the accusations and addressed their living situation. As it turns out, Diplo is Blackwell’s landlord. In a tweet, Diplo explained:
OK so I rent one of my properties to @quenblackwell. And yes I use the studio that is in that building. Her social media is sarcastic and chaotic and I can see you can get a twisted idea but there is nothing but a friendship between us.
— diplo (@diplo) October 26, 2020
He went on to say that he had no qualms about age or race when it came to renting out his properties. All he asked was that they “pay security deposit” and “don’t poke holes in the walls or ruin [his] carpet”. Blackwell herself has addressed the rumours, going as far as to say she’d “rather break both of [her] legs and be forced to walk than pursue Diplo”, who she calls her “LA Dad”.
— queen quen (@quenblackwell) October 26, 2020
Diplo also made it a point to answer fans who tweeted him, asking why he had a friendship with a 19-year-old. Echoing Blackwell’s sentiment, he simply replied:
We made music together https://t.co/jvlHPiSbpe
— diplo (@diplo) October 26, 2020
Well, unfortunately, these allegations aren’t completely baseless. Diplo, born Thomas Wesley Pentz, has previously been caught retweeting and liking tweets from underage girls twerking as part of his ‘express yourself’ hashtag. As it turns out, rapper Azealia Banks has called out the rapper for being a predator.
Remember Azealia Banks said Diplo is a predator who preys on underage black girls?
— xena. (@Groovychickenn) October 24, 2020
Other Twitter users continued to express concern for Blackwell.
we’re all glad you’re safe but you can’t deny he has a past of grooming young black girls and predatory behaviour towards young girls it’s just very concerning
— Sierra ✨ (@sierra_bailey14) October 26, 2020
"I'm an adult. I'm not being groomed … I've been living here for over a year." – a 19 year old.
What we're saying is that he's a known creep and this arrangement is inappropriate on his part. I hope you understand that and realize it's not you who's being criticized here.
— If NFTs don't have to exist irl then neither do I (@TJDDNdoesart) October 26, 2020
Diplo has also been accused of being volatile by former girlfriend M.I.A., who once told Rolling Stone that the DJs tendencies for jealous rages made their relationship a volatile one. She had said:
“When I got signed by Interscope, he literally smashed my hotel room and broke all the furniture because he was so angry I got picked up by a major label and it was the corniest thing in the world that could possibly happen.”
The ‘Major Lazer’ member has previously dated Katy Perry and has three songs: Lockett (10) and Lazer (6) with ex Kathryn Lockhart as well as Pace (7 months) with model Jevon King.
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Most recently, Diplo has resumed touring. In his caption, he shared a sweet message and explanation for why his young son was following him on tour.
“My son is 5, he has been inside almost all year. He started first grade online and hasnt met any of his school mates in person yet. Tonight I took him to his first concert of mine , not sure if he knows what to make of it in. 2020. […] I know we are fatigued and tired of a never ending quarantine […] But it’s our kids are the ones that lose the most, I just want them to be able to go play with each other, smile, interact, and not risk the health of others.”
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