What is happening with rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs?

·24 min·2 clips

Leaked CCTV footage shows Diddy hitting and kicking Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016.

The episode opens with host Laura Byrne introducing Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a 54-year-old music producer and global celebrity now in federal custody for serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. Guest Aoife Barry, an author and journalist, provides background on Combs' career, noting his rise from intern to founder of Bad Boy Records in 1993 and his influence on 1990s hip-hop. Barry outlines past allegations against Combs, such as a 2007 battery lawsuit and a 2015 arrest for assault, though many cases were settled or dropped. The focus shifts to Cassie Ventura, a singer and former girlfriend of Combs, who filed a multi-million dollar sexual assault lawsuit in late 2023, accusing him of beatings and rape over their years-long relationship. This civil case was settled quickly but opened the door for 11 other civil complaints alleging abuse dating back to the 1990s. In 2024, CCTV footage from 2016 leaked, showing Combs assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway, which he publicly apologized for. The episode details the federal indictment unsealed in September 2024, charging Combs with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. Prosecutors allege he led a criminal enterprise involving 'freak-offs'—drugged-up sexual performances—with evidence including seized baby oil and lubricant. Barry explains that some cases were enabled by New York's Adult Survivors Act, a 'look back' law from the Me Too era. Combs is currently denied bail and housed in a Brooklyn detention center alongside Sam Bankman-Fried, with potential life sentences if convicted. The discussion broadens to the music industry's culture, citing a 2018 survey where 67% of female musicians reported sexual harassment. Barry speculates on whether Combs' case could spur a Me Too-style reckoning in music, similar to Hollywood, and mentions high-profile connections like Usher and Justin Bieber. The episode concludes by noting ongoing media interest, including a Netflix docuseries produced by 50 Cent, and the possibility of more victims coming forward.

As heard by us

A steady guide to the power, allegations, and wider implications surrounding Sean Combs' federal case.

Sean Combs' federal case is told through the lens of power: a music career built over more than 30 years now set against charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, plus allegations of abuse, associates, and a criminal enterprise.

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You can hear why baby oil became a headline, then follow the allegations behind it.

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