'This Makes Me Physically Ill': Here Are The Celebrities Who Have Condemned The Diddy Verdict After He Was Acquitted Of The Most Serious Charges In His Sex-Trafficking Trial
On July 2, a Manhattan federal jury delivered a mixed verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs's sex-trafficking trial.
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Combs was found guilty on two out of five charges: two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Each guilty count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, so the music mogul now faces up to 20 years in prison.
The prosecution found that Combs violated the federal Mann Act, which prohibits the interstate or foreign transportation of an individual for sex, after arranging for his ex-girlfriend, Casandra "Cassie" Fine (birth name Ventura), and another woman referred to as 'Jane' to travel for allegedly coerced sexual encounters.
Cassie first publicly accused Combs of rape, coercion, and years of physical abuse in a civil suit in November 2023. They dated from 2007 to 2018.
Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. He had pleaded 'not guilty' to all charges.
Several celebrities have since taken to the internet to condemn the verdict of the trial. Kesha, who was embroiled in a yearslong legal battle with music producer Dr. Luke after she accused him of drugging and raping her, shared a tweet in support of Cassie. She wrote, 'Cassie, I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.'
Twitter: @KeshaRose
Dr. Luke and Kesha settled their suit in 2023.
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Actor Mariska Hargitay reshared an Instagram post from Glamour magazine that critiqued Combs. The first slide read, 'We won't forget what we saw you did to Cassie on that video,' referring to the 2016 footage of Combs physically assaulting Cassie.
After the disturbing video was released by CNN last year, Combs said, 'It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you gotta do that. I was fucked up. I mean, I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.'
Mariska then reposted another slide that said, 'Combs joins a long line of powerful and famous men who have allegedly engaged in abuse, yet faced minimal consequence.'
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Aubrey O'Day, who was previously signed to Combs's Bad Boy Records label, shared her live reaction to the verdict on Instagram. 'Oh, this makes me physically ill. Cassie probably feels so horrible. I'm gonna vomit,' she said.
She later shared a longer, written statement that read: 'I'm still unpacking the magnitude of it all. The cultural weight of this decision is immeasurable. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives have been impacted by their experiences with Sean Combs -- only for those stories to fall short in the eyes of a judge. I can only hope these jurors never have to watch someone they love endure what so many survivors have described.'
Rosie O'Donnell was also among those condemning the verdict of the trial. 'I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion- wow - they just think women stay because what? money - fame - 'they love the abuse' - what a fucking joke - this decision got me angry #cassie,' she wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Evan Rachel Wood said of the verdict, 'There is no consent in a domestic violence relationship. Period. Once the threat of violence is there, you comply. You do not consent. It is self preservation and survival. It is not freely or willingly given. It is forced and coerced out of you. We clearly have a long way to go in our understanding of this.'
In 2021, Evan alleged that her ex-fiancé, Marilyn Manson, 'horrifically abused' her for years, which the musician denied. Earlier this year, following a years-long investigation, the LA district attorney determined that allegations of domestic violence fell 'outside of the statute of limitations.' 'We cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt,' they said.
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Christina Ricci shared a sweet message of support towards Cassie, writing on Instagram: 'Sending so much love and respect to @cassie today. She is an inspiration and a hero and I stand with her.'
Moreover, Cassie's lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, released a statement to the press on July 2 after the news of Combs's verdict broke. 'This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,' he wrote. 'Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.'
'By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat — with no reservation — that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial,' the statement read.
'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,' Wigdor added.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Found Guilty On 2 Lesser Counts, But Jury Acquitted Him On The Most Serious ChargesNjera Perkins · July 2, 2025
Cassie's Lawyer Has Released A Statement Following The Diddy VerdictKelby Vera · July 2, 2025
Diddy Spoke Out About The Disturbing Footage Of Him Assaulting CassieChelsea Stewart · May 19, 2024
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