Santería, Diddy and J.Lo
PART 2 ALL WHITE ALL THE TIME!
Where we're we…ahhh, yes. The meaning of white.
In Yoruba/Santería belief, white symbolizes Olodumare, the supreme deity revered as the fountain of knowledge and power. Wearing white isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a direct link to the orishas, symbolizing unity among practitioners. Wearing white serves as a reminder that all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, are on the same spiritual path. It’s also a way to show deep respect and devotion. And psychologically? White brings calm and peace. Clearing out all the (white)noise and negativity. It helps Iyabós (new initiates) focus on their religious practices and spiritual connections. Boosting their self-esteem and making them feel renewed. Of course, everyone’s experience is different. Also not all of the deities they call on are bad. So the psychological vibes can vary from person to person.
All white. All the time.
Overall, wearing white in Yoruba/Santería religion isn’t just about looking dope—it’s about strengthening that spiritual link, protecting against negative vibes, and showing pure dedication. This tradition, deeply rooted in their beliefs and practices, personally connects each practitioner to their spirituality. Legend has it that at some point in time, a babalawo performed a spiritual reading for Malcolm X. Whether he was there or not is unknown. The reading revealed news of death or imminent double-crossing. He received the information from the reading along with an offering: the sacrifice of a black cockerel (a hen) could mitigate his death or undoing. X refused. Everyone in the community believes they have their own path and chooses how to live it. He is considered one of the most elevated recent ancestors. It is known that he traveled to Nigeria. He received the Yoruba name Omowale while in Nigeria. The University of Ibadan students gave this name to him. Omowale translates to “Child has come home or returned.”
Benny Medina, Jennifer's long time manager. He’s widely credited with transforming the unknown Latina star from a bit-part actress into one of the music and film industry’s most bankable stars in the five years they were together. He’d been building her career from the jump. He sat down with Us Weekly after he was fired.
In part one of this series I mentioned how she demanded someone to redecorate her dressing room. ALL WHITE or she wouldn't perform. Remember this was early on in her career. And you have to wear white for an entire year.
“Jen was and is fully aware of her diva demands.” In July 2013, Benny released a statement disputing claims that he was responsible for the diva demands of Jen before the singer-actress fired him in 03. Benny says that, “She was fully aware of the environment and what they were doing for her. The water, food, fruit, and everything she asked for.”
Like everything in the room white, perhaps?
Medina managed Jennifer Lopez. He collaborated with Tommy Mottola, who was the head of Sony Music at the time. Medina launched Lopez's pop music career in 1999. In 2003, at the height of her popularity, Lopez fired Medina and filed a complaint against him with California's labor commission. Some say ben affleck put her up to it. As ben and benny hated each other. As of 2008, Medina officially resumed his role as Lopez's manager and is also a godparent to her twin children. She can even be thanking him when she won the VMA in 2000 for her song ‘Waiting for Tonight.’ Other clients also managed by Medina included Tyra Banks, P. Diddy, and Mariah Carey. He managed her from 2003 to 2008. Carey later parted ways from Medina's Handprint Entertainment to represent herself. With her own Maroon Entertainment. Bennie was also accused of being the ‘real diva’ of the team. Rumors around hollywood were swirling that Jennifer wasn't the diva, but in fact it was Benny. He was the one making the demands. I call bull shit.
*AND THEN IT HITS ME AND I FEEL SILLY*
NOooOow I get it. The WHITE PARTIES make complete sense!!! (Kinda) They're strengthening that spiritual link and showing pure dedication to the religion. Did jennifer introduce all of this to Diddy? We know for sure that they knew each other in 97. She was in his video Been around the world! Diddy's white party started in 98. Did Diddy become an Orisha? Did she teach him the ways of santería? Orishas favor certain foods, and the worshipers bring these to the ceremony. Maybe his “ceremonies” were Santerian worship parties. Aka white party/freakoffs. It is said that music, dancing, and drumming are prominent in Santerian worship and are regarded as equivalents to prayer! I mean, that's literally all the ingredients to a diddy party. Devotees (women of HIS choosing) will lose themselves more deeply in their “ceremonies” as they dance and sing among the orishas. I'm thinking the higher-ups. Santerian spells, talismans, and charms are also elements of Santeria. Many of these aim at attracting love, money, success, etc. The Santerian mediums, or channelers, believe that they are making themselves available to the spirits of departed human beings or other entities. Having achieved a trance state, the Santerian channeler may speak with various voices that are unlike his or her familiar normal voice. The channeler’s facial expressions often change as well when the “other entities” are speaking. There are an estimated 2 million people who dabble in Santeria in the U.S. and 75–100 million in Latin America.
J.Lo and Diddy are still active members. And I got the proof…sorta.
Jennifer Lopez reportedly practices Santeria and black magic STILL. Just recently, amidst an ugly divorce battle, a bizarre report suggests that Ben Affleck is worried about what Jennifer Lopez can do using her "powers." Jennifer Lopez revealed in her autobiographical work, This Is Me Now... A Love Story (terrible, btw), that she is spiritual and introduced Sadhguru as her teacher. While this may not be a concern for any former spouse, a bizarre report suggests that her spiritual side is causing her anxiety. She's trying to cope with her new normal post-divorce, and it’s got Ben Affleck panicking she's gonna put a hex on him. Just like Ojani. Just like Cris's friends. How many people worry about the same thing? What is the common concern shared by all these individuals? Her and her witchy ways, that's what! It's not a coincidence. HE KNOWS that Lopez believes in this stuff and often plays around with it. Affleck is reportedly superstitious and is worried. "She’s shown him some pretty impressive skills over the years as far as predicting certain things and just her ability to manifest stuff,” reports claim. She wholeheartedly believes in the supernatural; you just have to watch the movie on Netflix that she wrote. Paid out of her own pocket. Millions. She wrote and directed it also. You can clearly see how invested she is in it. So it’s pretty understandable that Ben is nervous. She also work with Jae Rae. Who channels J.Los soul.
Ezili Dantor Tattoo
So while this tat isn't recent. A tattoo IS permanent. June of 2017. Sean Diddy Combs revealed a massive tattoo depicting the Madonna and Child, which covers his entire back. "I got the front, and she got my back!" he captioned the Instagram snap, tagging LA tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado. A large mural of Ezili Dantor, a central character in Haitian voodoo and often associated with motherhood, protection, and womanhood, is inked on Diddy's back. Single Moms (specifically) in the Spotlight.
In Haitian Vodou, people revere Ezili Dantor as the Iwa, or spirit, of motherhood, specifically single motherhood. The Black Madonna (on Diddy's back) of Czestochowa occasionally serves as a representation of Ezili Dantor. An actual icon (Sorry Paris) brought to Haiti by Polish mercenary soldiers in the 19th century. Other representations of Ezili Dantor include the scarred face of a warrior. As a single mom, she naturally embodied strength and determination. Ezili Dantor is known for her favorite offerings, which include a fried pork dish known as griot, crème de cacao, rum, Florida Water perfume, and strong unfiltered cigarettes.
People widely regard Ezili Dantor as a tough, even wild, protector of children, but her primary role is that of a mother. Despite her willingness to enforce discipline. She will fiercely protect her children and family. The tarot represents her as the Queen of Swords, honoring honesty, vulnerability, and hard work. If you're into that sort of thing.
Additionally, Haitian culture portrays her as a strong protector of marginalized groups, particularly women. Ezili is known to “destroy” anyone who hurts women since her core mission is to be a “selfless mother” who will “turn the world upside down for those she loves,” according to the news outlet. If Ezili becomes enraged, she will retaliate by unleashing a natural disaster. She also has the power to cause those who cross her to vomit blood, a belief held by those who revere her. Diddy has had Ezili marked on his back since 2017 and has seemingly put a mark on his head, put there by the mother spirit herself. Enzili worshippers believe this, given Diddy's allegations of sexual and physical abuse towards numerous women. Enzili is believed to fiercely safeguard and defend this particular demographic. How hypocritical and brazen is he? To have a tattoo of the woman who is supposed to be a fierce woman protector and DO THE THINGS he has done? To women and young children! I find it ironically irritating.
Beyoncé's Grammy performance attire resembled Enzili as well. That year at the Grammys, Beyoncé sang two songs: "Love Drought" and "Sandcastles." From her explosive album Lemonade. Lemonade, a concept album, features a song cycle that chronicles Beyoncé's emotional journey following the revelation of Jay-Z's infidelity with… Becky. You know, 'With the Good Hair. Also, infidelity in a generational and racial context. Ezili was regarded as a tough, wild protector of children, and single mothers but her primary role is that of a mother. Beyoncé was pregnant with the twins at the time.
The subtle nods that we don't even notice until we're aware... Wild.