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When Black Women Speak, the System Shrugs: What the Diddy Verdict Tells Us [Op-Ed]

info@blaqly.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:39:38 +0000

Source: Mychal Watts

Time and time again, the system has failed Black women, and when it comes to the recent allegations and case brought against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the sentiment is no different.

I want to preface this article by saying that two things can be true: my introduction to hip hop on my own terms occurred during the rise of Bad Boys Records in the 1990s. There was once a time when I wanted to be a part of the label, because I thought the energy was so infectious and exciting, a reminder that larger-than-life dreams were possible.

Despite rumors about his behavior behind the scenes, I had long admired Diddy for his ability to bring out the best in people. We saw it through acts like the Notorious B.I.G. and Mase, as well as with groups like Day 26 and Danity Kane. Although it was evident during the Making the Band days that he could be a little egotistical.

While I long adored what he represented in terms of Black excellence, and the glitz and glamor of making it as a star, I do not condone or support any behavior where people have been harmed, whether it’s mentally or physically.

When Cassie Ventura broke her silence in November 2023, I remember it vividly. I had lain down for a nap at my nana’s house during a visit home to Virginia, and when I woke up, I had dozens of messages asking about my thoughts on the matter.

As a Black woman, my stance will always be to support other Black women, period. Furthermore, as a victim of sexual assault myself, I have an even softer spot for women who, unfortunately, can say they’ve experienced the same.

I applaud Cassie and the other women who have come forward because it’s no easy feat, and now my heart aches for them following a verdict that seemingly holds this man partially accountable for some of the vile allegations that have been brought forth against him.

What Was The Verdict?

According to CBS News, Diddy was convicted of two counts of prostitution-related charges, with each count carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. He was acquitted of the more severe charges, which included racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, and is set to remain in detention as he awaits sentencing, now set for Oct. 3.

Kevin Winter

The Message It Sends To The Culture.

It would be remiss not to discuss the greatness of hip-hop without acknowledging some of its darker moments. This is one of them.

No matter how one feels about the outcome of the Diddy trial, the things heard throughout the various testimonies, including one from Cassie while she was just over eight months pregnant with her third child, cannot be undone.

For me, this echoes the concern of many women, Black women specifically, who never speak out against their abusers, not only out of fear that they’ll retaliate and do something awful, but when the deed is done by a man with power and the stature of someone like Diddy, it’s hard to tell whether justice will ever fully be served.

The case reinforces that powerful men are often untouchable and plays a role in the many victims who walk around with the burden of what it means to be sexually assaulted. At the same time, the alleged abuser continues to live their lives, basking in the glory of what it means to be a power player in the game of life.

Whether that power manifests as money or, in my case, the hierarchy of the family structure, it still plays a factor in the silence that women often carry with them to the very end. One that becomes a silent killer, becoming the underlying cause of chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.

Those suppressed emotions and the often spoken and unspoken expectation to be strong and resilient also lead to ailments that aren’t always visible, such as depression and anxiety.

With the case of Diddy, it’s hard to say where we go from here, but what I do know is that once again thanks to bravery of women like Cassie, and the women who’ve come before her like former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon who chronicled her allegations of sexual assault against another hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons, in the documentary on HBO Max titled On the Record.

We still have a very long way to go, and I would be lying if we were a step closer to uncovering some of the ills that are associated with men in power way too often.

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Cassie Breaks Silence After Diddy’s Shocking Verdict: ‘We Will Continue To Fight On Behalf Of Survivors’

info@blaqly.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:30:08 +0000

Source: Billboard / Getty

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney is seeking his immediate release after the mogul was acquitted on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

Following the verdict, Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, asked that Diddy be allowed to return to his Miami Beach home on Star Island.

“His family is here and could sign a bond,” Agnifilo told Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday, per CNN. “He should be released today.”

When Subramanian asked, “Are you proposing he just walk outside now?” Agnifilo replied, “Yes.”

“He is no longer charged with sex trafficking or racketeering,” his lawyer continued. “His plane has been chartered—it is in Maui. He does not have access to his plane. This is his first conviction, and it is a prostitution offense. He should be released.”

Agnifilo went on to request a $1 million bond that would allow Diddy to travel to New York, Los Angeles, and Florida.

On the contrary, prosecutor Maurene Comey said, “The U.S. opposes his release…A person found guilty shall be detained until the judicial officer finds he is not likely to flee or be a danger.”

Subramanian said he needed “to address a few matters with the lawyer,” saying: “I am not going to resolve this this second. I need to review the statutes.”

Though Combs was acquitted on the racketeering and sex trafficking charges, he was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail.

Multiple women and men have accused Diddy of sexual assault and sex trafficking, starting with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. She testified in May as a key witness for the prosecution, after Diddy pleaded not guilty to all charges leveled against him and continuously denied all allegations.

In a statement to Us Weekly on Wednesday, July 2, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, reacted to the verdict, applauding Cassie’s courage in coming forward.

“This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,” Wigdor began. “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.”

The statement continued, “We must repeat—with no reservation—that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. 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.”

Combs’ arrest came almost one year after Ventura filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse throughout their relationship, which lasted over a decade. The mogul denied her claims in a statement shared by his attorney, though her lawsuit was settled less than 24 hours later.

Wigdor commented on whether Ventura has been following the case, saying, “Yes, so, I mean, she is primarily, and has been focused on her family. She did testify when she was eight months pregnant. And she is really trying to look forward,” reports CNN.

“I mean, obviously, it’s almost impossible not to see some of the media about the case, and so she has seen some of that,” he continued. “I can tell you that some of the comments that were made in the closing argument, I thought were repugnant, frankly, calling those sorts of behaviors as a ‘modern-day relationship,’ saying that she enjoyed sex, saying she was a gangster, things like that. I don’t think, even with the jury verdict, that they would have given that any credit.”

Wigdor also reacted to Combs’ defense attorney saying Ventura is a “winner,” clarifying: “Obviously, Cassie Ventura, at that point in time and today, is not the winner. She endured 10 years of abuse, where she had to engage in days-long sexual acts with UTIs. She alleged that she was raped. And so to call her a winner, even though she did get $30 million part from—as she testified—part from Sean Combs, part from the hotel, no amount of money is going to ever undo what she had to endure and what she had to go through.”

Most recently, Cassie submitted a letter to the judge asking that Diddy not be allowed to post bond, alleging that he “poses a danger to the victims.”

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