Rapper, media mogul and now convicted criminal Diddy’s trial has shown that at best ignorance is rife and at worst people don’t care about women’s pain, argues critic Aimee Walsh
He’s a man known by many names: Diddy; Puff Daddy; Puffy; Sean Combs; and now a convicted criminal. His music was ubiquitous with the 2000s, collaborating with some of the biggest names in pop, from Christina Aguilera to Justin Bieber. His Bad Boy Record label brought artists such as Janelle Monáe and Machine Gun Kelly to the world. But now, after two months on trial his fame should pale in significance to the crimes he committed.
Over a period of eight weeks, a jury at Manhattan’s Federal Court in New York City heard the case against Sean Combs. He was tried on two counts of transportation for prostitution in relation to Cassie Ventura and another woman known as “Jane”, as well as two charges of sex trafficking with regards to Ventura and “Jane”, and one charge of racketeering conspiracy.
On July 2, he was found guilty on both counts of transportation for prostitution, and not guilty on the other three charges. Combs denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
This case has garnered significant attention, not least from the media and fans alike. A fan outside the court wore a T-shirt that read ‘A Freako is not a R.I.C.O’.
The so-called ‘Freak-offs’ are drug-fuelled, days-long sex parties, where hundreds of bottles of baby oil seized from Diddy’s Los Angeles home became an emblem for the excess and distress. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act has been used in the past to tackle criminal organisations, most notably in 1985 when Rudy Giuliani charged the heads of the so-called “Five Families” of the New York Mafia.
But where do we go from the news that one of the most recognisable men in music is dangerous? In May 2024 leaked surveillance footage from 2016, showed the world how Diddy brutally assaulted his then girlfriend Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in L.A . In a response on Instagram, Diddy described his “behaviour as inexcusable.” The footage is difficult to watch: what I see is a woman in a moment of desperate hope trying to flee her abuser.
But I’m not convinced that everybody sees this pain in the way I do. The video is right there for all to see, but yet the era of disinformation has equipped some with the ability to think: ‘Well, maybe we’re not getting the whole story here’.
Ignorance is the best case scenario for those who waited outside the Diddy court holding bottles of baby oil, rooting for his imminent release. But at worst, I think that fundamentally these people don’t care about how women are treated.
Heavily pregnant and weeping on the stand, Ventura told the court about her relationship with Diddy. She told the court about being plied with drugs and coerced into having sex with male prostitutes – which was sometimes recorded by Diddy.
This was not the first public declaration by Cassie about Diddy’s abuse. In 2023, the singer went public with allegations of rape and abuse that she suffered from Diddy. The media mogul settled this case out of court for $20million. Reading her testimony from the 2025 trial, the resilience to carry on in the hope of justice is inspiring.
In a move that is both insensitive to survivors and out of touch with the testimony that came before, Diddy’s defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo in closing arguments on June 27, described their relationship as a “great modern love story”. He said: “It’s complicated, but they are truly in love with each other, and that is what defines their relationship. It is based on love.”
Love should not result in bruises, split lips, and non-consensual sex. Love should not hurt. This is not a modern love story; this is a nightmare that plays out for far too many women. The National Centre for Domestic Violence defines domestic abuse as ranging from physical and sexual abuse to threatening or coercive behaviour. They report that 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime.
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.
When the verdict was read out in court, Diddy buckled with relief. His legal team put in a request for bail pending sentencing, which was denied. He remains behind bars until the proposed sentencing date of October 3. The New York Times reported that when this decision was handed down by Judge Arun Subramanian his jubilance turned to a “darkened demeanour”.
Outside the court Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor praised the singer for her bravery, saying: “She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.”
But orbits are not eternal, and will eventually decay away, dropping stars out of alignment. Survivors will be the change-makers, as they continue to come forward and advocate for future women’s safety. It is what we must do to ensure that powerful men cannot commit crimes unhindered.
If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control you can call Refuge’s 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. The number is 0808 2000 247
If you have been affected by this story, contact Rape Crisis England & Wales for free confidential support and information on 08088029999 or their website or 08088010302 if you’re calling from Scotland. You can contact the Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline on0808 802 1414if you are in Ireland.
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!
