‘No gift card; no rent paid’ at Miami event

MIAMI – #Crayons, candy, a kid’s toothbrush, and a coloring book were not what #Latarcia #Brown had in mind when she lined up for hours at #Diddy’s event on #Tuesday.

The grandmother, who lives with her parents in #Miami’s #Overtown, said she was early to the giveaway event because she heard they were going to distribute aid.

The gift bag, she said, was a disappointment.

“No gift card; no rent paid … The lady told me if you got a gift bag you need to go,” #Brown said.

#Brown couldn’t reach #Sean “Diddy” #Combs when he arrived at the #House of #Wings, a counter-serve restaurant at 1039 NW 3rd #Ave., in #Overtown. There was chaos, she said.

#Social distancing went out the window when the #New #York #City-born rapper started to hand out $50 bills to the crowd. #He didn’t wear a face mask. #He wore a face shield and gloves.

#Diddy’s visit to the historic neighborhood made nationwide headlines after an announcement that the #California-based #Sean #Combs #Foundation was covering the cost of one month’s rent for 175 families in #Miami.

#Michael #Gardner, of the #Headliner #Market #Group, and #Miami-Dade #Commissioner #Keon #Hardemon both praised #Diddy’s generosity. The majority of the people who were there were very appreciative.

#His foundation gave a grant to the #Teens #Exercising #Extraordinary #Success, a nonprofit organization that has a program to help families during the pandemic.

#Brown, who said she and her family are in dire need of help during the pandemic, received a response to her complaint from the #House of #Wings where she received a gift card on #Wednesday.