Sting isn’t letting Sean “Diddy” Combs' recent legal troubles cloud his feelings about The Police’s classic hit, “Every Breath You Take.” In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published on November 11, the 73-year-old musician (born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner) shared that despite the serious allegations against Diddy, his opinion of the song remains unchanged. Diddy famously sampled the track in his 1997 hit, “I’ll Be Missing You,” which featured Faith Evans and R&B group 112, as a tribute to the late rapper Notorious B.I.G.

“No. I mean, I don’t know what went on [with Diddy],” Sting told the outlet. “But it doesn’t taint the song at all for me. It’s still my song.”

Sting, a 17-time Grammy winner known for his iconic career with The Police and his successful solo work, is protective of his music’s legacy. “Every Breath You Take” remains one of his most recognizable songs, credited with cementing The Police’s place in rock history. His comments come amid a series of serious allegations against Diddy, who was charged with sex trafficking and racketeering in September and has been held without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

For Sting, the song’s legacy is tied to his own career and personal journey, separate from those who have reinterpreted it.