Celebrity have been weighing in on Diddy's trial following the jury coming to a verdict on the many charges he was accused of.
The New York jury were finally able to come to a verdict on Wednesday (July 2) in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' trial, which has gone on for the last two months.
Combs was arrested last year in September and was met with charges of charge of racketeering conspiracy, plus two charges of both sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He denied all of the charges against him.
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In full, the five counts were as follows:
- Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy
- Count 2: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – pertains to Victim 1 (Cassie)
- Count 3: Transportation to engage in prostitution – pertains to Victim 1 (Cassie) and commercial sex workers
- Count 4: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – pertains to Victim 2 (“Jane”)
- Count 5: Transportation to engage in prostitution – pertains to Victim 2 (“Jane”) and commercial sex workers
The jury have since reached their verdict and Combs has been found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he has been found not guilty of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of racketeering conspiracy.
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As this news spread around the world, celebrities began to weigh in on it.
Rosie O'Donnell
Talk show host and comedian Rosie O’Donnell was one such name to air her views on the verdict.
She wrote on Instagram: "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 f***ing joke. This decision got me angry."
50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent had an odd response to the news, sharing an AI picture of himself and seemingly joking about the outcome, despite him and Combs seemingly having a longstanding feud.
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He wrote: "Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man! beat the Rico, he the Gay John Gotti."
Aubrey O'Day
Aubrey O’Day, who was signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Record label as part of a female group Danity Kane, and was discovered on his reality TV show, Making the Band, had stern words about the verdict.
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Writing in an Instagram Story, she said: "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 jury. I can only hope these jurors never have to watch someone they love endure what so many survivors have described
"My heart is with Cassie. A woman who could’ve had a life and career free of fear and control. A woman who told her truth in a courtroom, only to have the world dissect her credibility instead of her courage."
Cassie Ventura
Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, who was a former long-term partner of Combs and testified significantly during his trial, also had a statement issued via her legal team following the verdict.
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Her lawyer, Douglas H Wigdor, told Sky News: "This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023.
"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."
Kesha
Singer Kesha shared a message on social media, saying: "Cassie, I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor."
Yung Miami
In a bizarre twist, rapper Yung Miami has been facing backlash for how she responded to the verdict. The rapper has been a vocal supporter of Combs throughout the trial.
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On her Instagram Story, Miami uploaded a monochrome video of Justin Bieber post-verdict. The image showed Bieber grinning while gesturing with his index finger and thumb, an action of approval that's become popular among Gen Z.
Gerrard Kaonga