Model sez Diddy is a Fashion Dud

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Model sez Diddy is a Fashion Dud

By Jego R. Armstrong. Daily News Writer

Supermodel Tyson Beckford is stepping off the catwalk for good - and blaming Sean (Diddy) Combs for making the fashion biz ugly.

The chiseled 32-year-old announced his retirement from modeling yesterday, telling the Daily News that his stint with Combs' Sean John clothing line wasn't his style.

"Sean John has turned me off to the fashion world," said Beckford, who filed a breach of contract and trademark infringement suit against Combs and Sean John in Manhattan Federal Court on Aug. 19.

"He doesn't understand fashion. If he wasn't in the music business, he wouldn't be in fashion," Beckford said. "I was doing the brother a favor."

The former face of Ralph Lauren said he'll turn his attention to acting and auto racing.

Beckford, who is still recovering from a serious auto accident back in June, signed an agreement with Sean John in May 2004. The two-year deal, worth $1.2 million, allowed Sean John to use Beckford in print ads and for appearances at a fashion show and in a TV spot.

According to court papers, Combs' agents advised Beckford's manager, Beth Ann Hardison, last April that Sean John would no longer use Beckford in its marketing campaigns and therefore would not pay the $600,000 remaining on the agreement.

But according to court papers, Beckford's photographs and images continued to appear on Sean John's Web site, and even in a full-page ad in Source magazine's June issue.

Hardison, who runs Bethann Management Company, Inc., said the continued use of Tyson's image gave the public the perception that the deal with Sean John was exclusive. "We were never exclusively signed with Sean John. He [Tyson] was hired to do the advertising campaign," said Hardison.

"But once you continue to use his image without our permission, people assume that we're in bed with them. And that's not the case."

Reps for Combs could not be reached, but Sean John released a statement saying, "While we don't generally comment on pending litigation, we feel this action against us is without merit. We plan on vigorously defending ourselves."