Aubrey O’Day, the Danity Kane singer who rose to fame through MTV’s Making the Band, is making serious claims about her time in the music industry. She says powerful figures allegedly tied career opportunities to sex.
According to O’Day, some major artists even offered her tens of thousands of dollars. Her allegations shed light on the shocking experiences she says she faced while trying to build her career.
Aubrey O’Day alleges music industry gatekeepers ‘played dirty’ during her rise to fame.
Speaking on the Creators Inc. podcast, O’Day said some music industry gatekeepers controlled who could become famous and allegedly demanded sexual favors in exchange for career opportunities.
O’Day alleged, “Some of the gatekeepers played dirty, and you had to f— for tracks.” She also claimed there was “all kinds of pay-for-play,” and said some of those individuals “still need to be [investigated] federally.”
O’Day then described two alleged offers. She said one major star currently on tour offered her $50,000 for sex, along with promises to appear on her first single, sign her to his label and produce the track.
She also claimed another recording artist offered around $150,000 for sex, which she said she rejected. “I would take neither of that, by the way…It was f—ing nuts,” O’Day alleged, adding that she received “many calls from many rappers” with similar propositions.
The singer also said she was “blacklisted” because of her outspoken criticism of Diddy, whom she had previously spoken against. She had also criticized his 2024 apology following the release of a 2016 video showing him physically assaulting Cassie Ventura.
O’Day became known after winning Making the Band and joining Danity Kane alongside Aundrea Fimbres, D. Woods, Shannon Bex and Dawn Richard. The group signed with Combs’ Bad Boy Records and released hits including “Damaged” and “Show Stopper.”
Danity Kane initially disbanded in 2009. The group reunited with three members for the 2014 album DK3. They later released more singles in 2019 and 2020. O’Day also appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice and Dance Moms and released two albums with Bex as Dumblonde.
Originally reported by Deepshikha Sarkar on Reality Tea
