Sting says Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs allegations ‘don’t taint’ hit song ‘Every Breath You Take’

nypost.com:

disturbing allegations of sexual misconduct facing Sean “Diddy” Combs “taint” the English rocker’s hit, “Every Breath You Take.”Written by Sting, 73, for his former band The Police, the 1983 track was famously sampled by Diddy, 55, in his 1997 song “I’ll Be Missing You” with Faith Evans.

In a new interview with The Los Angeles Times published Monday, Sting was asked about whether his relationship with his song has changed following Diddy’s September arrest on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The rock legend gave an unambiguous response: “No.” “I mean, I don’t know what went on [with Diddy],” he admitted. “But it doesn’t taint the song at all for me.”“It’s still my song,” he added of his original song.After the interviewer chimed in, saying, “people still love to hear it,” Sting responded, “Absolutely.

Speaking about his 2023 collaboration with Pink and Marshmello, “Dreaming,” which samples a solo song of his, 1993’s “Fields of Gold,” Sting revealed how he views sampling more broadly.Asked why he thinks his music keeps “drawing” younger musicians, Sting said, “I have no idea, but when somebody wants to interpolate or whatever it’s called, I never object because I always learn something about the song that I hadn’t known or anticipated.” “And I get paid, so why not?