Updated: Diddy tweets that he's joining "Downton Abbey" cast -- he's not

The rapper tweets that "Downton" is "favorite show," promises to release "sneak peek" tonight. WGBH says he's lying

Published May 15, 2013 9:20PM (EDT)

Sean Combs  (AP/Dario Cantatore)
Sean Combs (AP/Dario Cantatore)

The rapper Diddy, best known for hits including "Bad Boy for Life," may be is not entering a whole new milieu.

He tweeted today that he is to be a series regular on "Downton Abbey," the "Masterpiece" saga that recently featured special guest star Shirley MacLaine.

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[embedtweet id="334771770575962112"]

It'd be a big, but not shocking, move for the musician, who's sporadically tried acting in high-toned, prestigious productions (he appeared onscreen in "Monster's Ball" and onstage in "A Raisin in the Sun"). His announcement -- which may very well be a joke -- comes on the heels of his protégés in the girl group Danity Kane reuniting without his help. Diddy has decisively seized the spotlight back for himself.

While the idea that the series would cast Diddy is implausible, it is worth noting that he wouldn't be out of place at the manor; the show recently cast its first black character, to be played by British actor Jack Ross. And he wouldn't be the only famous musician on the show, either; famed soprano Kiri Te Kanawa has been cast for season 4 of "Downton" as well.

We've reached out to PBS for comment and will update if they respond.

UPDATE, 5:34p.m.: A representative for "Masterpiece" at PBS member station WGBH Boston emails Salon: "Very funny, but it's simply not true."


By Daniel D'Addario

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