LA Times Apologizes for Diddy-Tupac Story

The Los Angeles Times today admitted the paper was duped in its story alleging that Sean "Diddy" Combs was connected to the 1994 murder of fellow rapper Tupac Shakur. The reporter and editor responsible for the story apologized and said parts of it were based on FBI records that turned out to have been fabricated by an imprisoned con man.

"In relying on documents that I now believe were fake, I failed to do my job," said reporter Chuck Philips, whose story was first questioned by the Smoking Gun website. "I'm sorry." Added editor Marc Duvoisin: "We should not have let ourselves be fooled." The paper has been widely panned, and Combs' lawyer has not ruled out legal action, the Times reports. (More Tupac Shakur stories.)