California university investigates 'offensive' viral TikTok featuring blackface diddy costume

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San Diego State University is investigating an image that went viral over the weekend showing teenagers dressed as a bottle of baby oil for Halloween and Sean “Diddy” Combs wearing a blackface costume.

The image was first posted on TikTok by a user, presumably attending college, with the caption “How the group chat dressed for Halloween.” It later spread widely on social media sites like X.

The costume is a nod to the allegations against Combs, who faces federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges as well as numerous sexual misconduct lawsuits accusing him of using his money and influence as a music mogul to commit serial abuse.

Federal agents seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant from Combs' Miami home last year, which prosecutors said he used for “freak-off” sex parties. Combs has denied wrongdoing.

SDSU said in a statement that the people depicted in the costume were not students and that the person who originally posted the images on social media was not among the people in the image.

“We appreciate those who have come forward to share information about images circulating online,” the school said said in a statement on Monday. “The use of blackface and any actions that trivialize sexual assault are deeply offensive and have no place in our community. The individuals photographed are not confirmed SDSU students and our team is working to confirm information, including the location and identities of those involved.”

“I don’t think this is acceptable for Halloween or any other day of the week. These are real stories. “It’s not a costume,” SDSU Carina Virta told NBC San Diego.

“I think this is wrong because there are a lot of people who have been through traumatic experiences and they may not want to come forward because people will mock them and think it's a joke,” another student, Natash Ngonzo, told the outlet .

Blackface originated in the 19th century and featured heavily made-up white performers pretending to be black and using offensive racial stereotypes that have greatly influenced today's racial prejudices.