Sean Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, P Diddy or “Love”, has been a superstar for decades. He successfully transitioned his career as a rapper into becoming a prominent figure in the hip hop industry. His parties were famous for being attended by A-list celebrities and renowned for their wildness.
In September, he was charged with severe offenses, including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. An eight-week trial followed.
Anna Betts, a breaking news reporter for The Guardian, has been covering the case. She explains why the charge of racketeering, typically associated with mafia members, was brought. The court heard evidence from two women who claimed Combs had coerced them into what he referred to as “freak offs”, as well as his history of domestic violence.
Combs was found not guilty of the three most serious charges but was convicted of two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution. Andrew Lawrence, a senior feature writer for The Guardian US, discusses with Nosheen Iqbal the potential damage this case could inflict on Combs and whether the music industry is prepared to confront the misconduct of its most influential stars.
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