Gene Deal accused Stevie J of portraying a false tough-guy image and disputed his narrative of the night The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered. Former bodyguard of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Gene Deal, criticized Stevie J for his recent tough image, claiming drug use, and disagreeing with his version of events leading to Biggie’s death in Los Angeles. Deal, who had protected Stevie J in New York and considered him like family, responded to Stevie J's comments downplaying their relationship by asserting Stevie J’s lack of authenticity and demanding he stop pretending to be a gangster. Deal highlighted that Stevie J was close to the incident when Biggie was shot in 1997 and challenged Stevie J’s account of that night given the tensions between East Coast and West Coast rap factions. Deal criticized Stevie J for not taking seriously warnings from Crips about threats to Diddy and Biggie before the shooting, emphasizing that Stevie J's dismissing the incident as a regular night was insensitive. Despite Stevie J denying their past association and claiming Deal seeks attention through embellishments, Deal maintained his perspective on Stevie J's actions and character.