Laura Bush snubs P. Diddy

According to the New York Post, Laura Bush informed her reps that she did not want to appear alongside Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs at last night's grand opening of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.

Combs was supposed to join the first lady, actress Angela Bassett, U2 frontman Bono, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, Sen. Mike DeWine, Black Entertainment Television CEO Bob Johnson and other dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but Bush's office nixed the photo-op with Combs.

"Her reps made it very clear to Freedom Center that they would not have Laura Bush appearing in the same photo-op as P. Diddy," the Post source reported.

"I'm not really sure why they didn't want her to pose with him, but maybe it has something to do with his scandalous past. For whatever the reason, Laura Bush's people did not want her photo taken with him."

After Combs was made aware of the first lady's objections, he pulled out of the event. A spokesman for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center told us: "I am not privy to why he's not coming. We are very disappointed."

"It is with deep regret that I am unable to attend the public dedication of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati due to an unexpected personal obligation," Combs told PAGE SIX through his publicist.

"I wish the Freedom Center and the people of Cincinnati the greatest success which I know they will achieve. I look forward to traveling to Cincinnati in the near future to experience first-hand this magnificent institution."

Despite his statement, a source close to Combs suggested that he canceled his trip to Cincinnati only after learning of Laura Bush's feelings. "He wasn't going to fly out there and not be allowed in the photo op," the source said.

The mogul, who promoted Citizen Change with the likes of Russell Simmons and Ben Affleck at the Democratic National Convention, is slated to make his case at the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1.