Diddy Please: Yes, You're A Bozo For Cheering For Sean Combs
So, the verdict is in.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been acquitted of the most serious federal charges—racketeering and sex trafficking—but was found guilty on two lesser charges: transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution. While some in his corner are calling this a 'victory,' there's nothing victorious about a man found guilty of exploiting the women who loved and supported him, women that he coerced to live a lifestyle they truly weren't into. There's no parade coming for a predator and if you're out here cheering for Diddy like he just beat the system, then congratulations—you're officially a bozo.
Despite the dramatic shift in charges for the conviction, Combs will remain in custody until his sentencing this fall, with prosecutors seeking a four to five-year prison sentence. Many have taken to social media to express their opinion on the verdict.
What's wild is how many folks have hopped online to defend him, using the same tired tropes to deflect accountability: 'They're trying to bring down another successful Black man,' or 'This is just the system at work against us.' But the reality is this: there was no grand conspiracy to take down Diddy. The man didn't try to take him down; his choices did. What happened here was the slow collapse of a long-standing, heavily curated illusion.
He is a predator who should have gotten locked up and should remain behind bars for the years of domestic violence he inflicted upon a young woman he literally groomed—but there's no outrage. His supporters aren't considering the fact that despite his legal clearance, we all saw the video.
The brutal surveillance footage of Diddy attacking Cassie in that hotel hallway was not up for debate, interpretation, or conspiracy theorizing. It was violence—plain and simple. No editing. No agenda. Just a predator caught in the act. Yet somehow, people still find the energy to defend him, framing it as some sort of cultural persecution for his affinity for Freak-offs, when it was truly a fight for justice for people who had been silenced for too long.
Diddy wasn't some misunderstood visionary unfairly targeted. He was a grown man who made calculated choices over decades—choices to groom, abuse, harass, and intimidate men and women. Just because he escaped conviction on the most severe charges doesn't mean he's innocent. It means the justice system worked as it usually does for the rich and connected; it gave him a softer landing.
Still, no amount of baby oil is going to smooth over the stain on his legacy. That Bad Boy co-sign? Worthless. The industry is already keeping its distance, and even his so-called friends were nowhere to be seen during his trial, because everyone knows that association is currency, and no one wants to cash a check signed in scandal and accompanied by side eyes.
Diddy's power didn't just evaporate—it was stripped from him because people finally stopped looking away. And no, this isn't the same as some of the political takedowns we've seen. Donald Trump's impunity is powered by a broken, racist system that was never designed to hold him accountable. Diddy had our culture behind him—until he abused it. Until he abused us.
The most disheartening fact is that once again, folks tripped over headlines, ignoring facts and sending a message loud and clear that women aren't protected because men are out here scorned. The same energy that allowed Tory Lanez to continue harassing Megan Thee Stallion is back in full force—this time, applauding a man who was literally caught on camera assaulting his partner.
The public attack with no action from these same men who love to be loud and wrong was used by the Trump campaign last election season to taint the image of then presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, once again proving that there's a serious discussion that needs to be had among Black people and it's about standards.
It's time we stop confusing 'cool' with character. Diddy is not a cultural martyr; he's a cautionary tale, and it's time our community recalibrates its standards. Somewhere along the way, we've gotten lost in this toxic pursuit of clout, cash, and assimilation.
There's nothing 'corny' about Cassie's husband standing beside her during weeks of grueling public scrutiny while she was visibly pregnant. But there is something deeply corny—and frankly pathetic—about a 55-year-old mogul lying through his teeth, still pretending to be 'acting bad,' all while hiding from accountability until evidence forced his hand. At this big age, if you can't admit your wrongs and make peace with the consequences, then what are we really defending?
That old 'bad boy,' 'rough-neck,' and newly rebranded 'YN' ideology is played out. We need to teach our young men to be more than performers of masculinity; they should be protectors of truth, defenders of women, and warriors for justice. We also have to teach our young women not to settle, how to support one another when faced with the challenges of coming forward, and how not to be so desperate to be desired that they throw another woman under the bus and victim-blame her for attention.
As the incomparable Lauryn Hill once said: 'How you gon' win when you ain't right within?'
This isn't just a Diddy issue; it's truly a culture check pointing out that the time for healing, reckoning, and real growth is now. Because if we're going to move forward as a community, it starts with holding all of us accountable, especially the ones we once called kings.
SEE ALSO:
There Is No Defending Diddy
Why Sean Combs Was Never Going To Be Fully Held Accountable [Op-Ed]
SEE ALSO
Diddy Please: Yes, You're A Bozo For Cheering For Sean Combs was originally published on newsone.com
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Initially he allowed only 30 minutes for lunch until prosecutors and the defense team pleaded for more time to eat. Combs stacked his defense team with criminal lawyers from New York and Atlanta, some he has known for years, others he brought on just weeks before the trial began. Marc Agnifilio and Teny Geragos led his defense. Appellate specialists Alexandra Shapiro and Jason Driscoll handled legal arguments over evidence, and Anna Estevao cross examined Ventura. Weeks before the trial began Combs brought on Xavier Donaldson, a criminal defense lawyer in New York, and two trial attorneys from Atlanta, Brian Steel and Nicole Westmoreland, who recently represented rapper Young Thug and a co-defendant, respectfully, in a criminal racketeering trial. The six-member all-female prosecution team was led by Maurene Comey, an experienced prosecutor of complex cases and the daughter of Jim Comey, the former FBI director. They dressed almost identically in black or blue suits, often with their hair tied back. From a distance it could be difficult to tell them apart. Prosecutors were methodical presenting their case, tying the evidence together in a roadmap for the jury. They layered text messages with testimony and hotel invoices. In his closing argument, Agnifilo mocked the prosecution case, congratulating agents with Homeland Security for seizing baby oil used during sexual encounters at Combs homes, drawing laughs from at least one juror. 'I guess it's all worth it because they found the Astroglide. They found it in boxes, boxes of Astroglide taken off the streets,' he said. 'They found the baby oil,' he said, adding, 'Way to go, fellas.' After the verdict was read, prosecutors filed out of the courtroom. Combs' lawyers stayed back, celebrating their partial win. Chants of 'Dream Team' began in the row of supporters, as his attorneys embraced each other. 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Rapper Kid Cudi, the only witness to arrive to court wearing a leather jacket and a cigarette dangling from his lip, testified about dating Ventura, a Molotov cocktail thrown through the roof of his Porsche, and a meeting with Combs who he described as a 'Marvel super villan.' And Kanye West, a friend of Combs, caused a commotion when he showed up at the courthouse. He was denied entry to the courtroom and spent about five minutes watching the trial on a screen in an overflow room before leaving. Jurors' attention was rapt during the testimony of key witnesses, including Ventura, their heads bobbing from questioner to witness. At other times, later in the trial, some rested their eyes as text messages they had already seen were re-read into the record for hours. Combs' lawyers didn't call one witness. The founder of Bad Boy Records, who played a big role in his own defense, passing Post-It notes to his attorney and huddling with them over key decisions, chose not to testify. When informing the judge of his decision, he used it as an opportunity to tell the judge he was doing an 'excellent' job. Over nine weeks a rhythm developed. Members of the media, public and social media streamers lined up outside of the courthouse in heavy rain, cold winds, and steamy temperatures to gain one of the limited seats inside the courtroom. Members of Combs family arrived in black sprinter vans and took their seats in the family section. Court security officers kept order, reminding everyone that talking was not allowed when court was in session. Each morning Combs, his hair now gray, was led by US Marshals into the courtroom wearing a rotation of crew neck sweaters in shades of blue, gray and cream. He always looked for his family, flashed them a smile, a tap on the chest, or blew them a kiss. Judge Arun Subramanian, an energetic erudite judge, set a tight schedule – the trial day started at 9 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m. most days. Initially he allowed only 30 minutes for lunch until prosecutors and the defense team pleaded for more time to eat. Combs stacked his defense team with criminal lawyers from New York and Atlanta, some he has known for years, others he brought on just weeks before the trial began. Marc Agnifilio and Teny Geragos led his defense. Appellate specialists Alexandra Shapiro and Jason Driscoll handled legal arguments over evidence, and Anna Estevao cross examined Ventura. Weeks before the trial began Combs brought on Xavier Donaldson, a criminal defense lawyer in New York, and two trial attorneys from Atlanta, Brian Steel and Nicole Westmoreland, who recently represented rapper Young Thug and a co-defendant, respectfully, in a criminal racketeering trial. The six-member all-female prosecution team was led by Maurene Comey, an experienced prosecutor of complex cases and the daughter of Jim Comey, the former FBI director. They dressed almost identically in black or blue suits, often with their hair tied back. From a distance it could be difficult to tell them apart. Prosecutors were methodical presenting their case, tying the evidence together in a roadmap for the jury. They layered text messages with testimony and hotel invoices. In his closing argument, Agnifilo mocked the prosecution case, congratulating agents with Homeland Security for seizing baby oil used during sexual encounters at Combs homes, drawing laughs from at least one juror. 'I guess it's all worth it because they found the Astroglide. They found it in boxes, boxes of Astroglide taken off the streets,' he said. 'They found the baby oil,' he said, adding, 'Way to go, fellas.' After the verdict was read, prosecutors filed out of the courtroom. Combs' lawyers stayed back, celebrating their partial win. Chants of 'Dream Team' began in the row of supporters, as his attorneys embraced each other. Outside, some of Combs supporters sprayed baby oil on each other. Others wore t-shirts that said 'A freako is not a R.I.C.O.' Agniflio quipped to reporters, that he thought they took baby oil off the streets.
