Celebrities reacted to the verdict after Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court.
In a split decision, jurors found Combs guilty on less serious counts of transporting his ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and another woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane Doe” for the purposes of prostitution.
Cassie’s attorney Douglas H. Wigdor released a statement to Urban Hollywood 411 praising her courage.
“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,” the statement read.
“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,” Wigdor continued. “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.”
Related: Diddy Denied Bond After Letters to Court Saying He Poses ‘Immediate Threat’
Singer Dawn Richard, who also filed a civil suit against Combs and testified in the trial, said through her attorney Lisa Bloom that she will continue to fight for justice.
“Today’s split verdict is a disappointment, but the criminal charges are different than the civil claims we filed and have been fighting against Sean Combs. We will continue to aggressively fight our case until we obtain full and complete justice for Dawn,” Bloom said in a statement.
Richard, a former member of the Bad Boy Records group Danity Kane, was one of the prosecution’s 34 witnesses at the trial.
Aubrey O’Day, another former Danity Kane member, shared her reaction in an Instagram story while watching the verdict reported in real time on CNN.
“Oh my God. Not guilty on Cassie, not guilty on RICO. No way Jane is going to be guilty. Oh, this makes me physically ill. Cassie probably feels so horrible. I’m gonna vomit,” she wrote.
She later added a full statement to her Instagram story, writing: “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.”
O’Day described Combs’ behavior as “control, coercion and abuse,” which she said had been “legitimized by the system.”
Pop singer Kesha, who previously announced plans to alter the lyrics to her hit song “Tik Tok” that references Combs, reacted on X. “Cassie, I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor,” she wrote.
Rapper 50 Cent, a longtime critic of Combs and producer of an upcoming docuseries on the allegations against the mogul, posted a photo of himself smiling on Instagram with the caption: “Diddy beat the Rico, that boy a bad man! he like the gay John Gotti.”
Following the verdict, Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs’ request for bail ahead of his sentencing. The judge cited his history of violence and past illegal conduct, according to CNN.
Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3, though the date could be moved up, CNN said.
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