Sean Combs arrives on the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Trade Icons on the Beverly Hilton Resort on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Mark Von Holden/Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP
cover caption
toggle caption
Mark Von Holden/Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP
Sean Combs arrives on the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Trade Icons on the Beverly Hilton Resort on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Mark Von Holden/Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP
When Sean “Diddy” Combs sang about being a foul boy in his 2001 hit, the lyrics have been a mission assertion and a boast. However immediately, the lyrics may sound extra like a warning, as dozens of allegations of sexual abuse, intercourse trafficking, racketeering and rape are piling up in opposition to the music mogul.
Combs, lengthy some of the highly effective forces in fashionable music, has now turn into related to names like Harvey Weinstein and Invoice Cosby, profitable males accused of utilizing their energy to abuse others. Thaila Graves, considered one of Combs’s accusers, spoke about that abuse this week.
“It goes past simply bodily hurt attributable to and through the assault,” she stated. “It is a ache that reaches into your very core of who you’re, and leaving emotional scars that will by no means absolutely heal.”
You are studying the Take into account This text, which unpacks one main information story every day. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and hearken to extra from the Take into account This podcast.
The costs.
At this time, Combs sits in a jail cell going through federal fees of intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not responsible.
And this previous Wednesday, he was accused of rape in one other lawsuit. NPR’s Sidney Madden has been following the case.
Madden says there at the moment are greater than 10 civil fits filed in opposition to Combs alleging violence and sexual abuse.
“And when he was arrested final week on the federal fees, the massive linchpin within the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace case was that Combs had been operating his file label all these years as a intercourse trafficking prison enterprise,” Madden stated.
“And so they asserted how staff would collude, conceal and generally take part in sexual abuse with Combs.”
Impacts on the trade.
Combs is the largest identify within the music trade up to now to doubtlessly face authorized repercussions for alleged abuse.
To dig deeper into what Combs’s fall from grace may imply for the trade, Take into account This host Ailsa Chang spoke with Naima Cochran, a music journalist and former music label govt.
So, how does she really feel in regards to the allegations in opposition to Combs?
“It is surprising that we’re on this second. However I imagine the allegations. It’s surprising to see such a drastic fall from grace, even given figuring out his character sort, even with rumors, even figuring out that there was an escalation of habits over time,” Cochran stated.
“It is nonetheless simply very surprising to see anyone who was so pivotal to the tradition and who did a lot for tradition, for leisure, for music, blemish their legacy like this and simply be able to such completely reprehensible habits.”
Past Sean Combs, the music trade did not appear to be a part of the #MeToo motion that touched Hollywood politics and the media starting in late 2017. Cochran says there are a number of components that play into that.
“One factor is that a number of the whistleblowers in Hollywood have been very credible, individuals like excessive stage actors and actresses who’ve talked about their experiences, versus others after which perhaps executives and workers adopted,” she stated.
“It will doubtlessly be much like Cassie, who was an artist and a star, versus Drew Dixon, who levied allegations in opposition to Russell Simmons and who was an govt. I feel the voice issues, and when somebody with a reputation and a platform and a following is the particular person to name one thing out, then individuals pay nearer consideration.”
This episode was produced by Marc Rivers with audio engineering by Neil Tevault. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our govt producer is Sami Yenigun.
