Celebrities are speaking out following Sean “Diddy” Combs’ recent arrest.
The music mogul was taken into custody in New York on September 16th. A 14-page indictment was unsealed the following day alleging that Diddy “abuse, intimidate and coerce women and other members of his public circle.” The rapper has since pleaded not guilty to charges of organized criminal conspiracy, coercion for sex trafficking, fraud, extortion and transportation for prostitution.
A New York judge denied Diddy’s bail on September 17, meaning he will remain in custody while awaiting trial.
Diddy’s lawyer, Mark Anifilo, said in an interview with CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins that Diddy is innocent.
“He’s innocent. I believe he’s innocent. I believe he’s innocent of the charges,” he said on air Sept. 17. “He will go to trial. And I believe he will win.”
RELATED: A timeline of Diddy’s legal troubles, charges and arrests
INF/INSTAR Sean “Diddy” Combs has been under investigation for at least a year after being accused of sexual assault by multiple people. The rapper and music mogul, 54, made headlines in November 2023 when his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, accused him of sexual abuse in a shocking lawsuit. She alleged that Diddy beat her and forced her to (…)
As Diddy’s legal battle continues, music industry figures are speaking out about his arrest and subsequent charges. Scroll down to read some of the biggest reactions.
Aubrey O’Day
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The former Danity Kane member, who has been outspoken about Diddy in the past, appeared to respond to the news of Diddy’s arrest on September 16th.
“The purpose of justice is to give closure and allow us space to create a new chapter,” she shared on her Instagram Story. “Women never get this. I feel recognized. Today is a victory not only for me, but for women all over the world.”
The singer added: “Things are finally changing.”
Dawn Richard
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A second former Danity Kane member also spoke out.
“We applaud the grand jury’s new indictment against Sean Combs, which is strikingly similar to the federal complaint we filed last week on behalf of our courageous client, Dawn Richard,” attorney Lisa Bloom said in a statement to Us Weekly on September 17. “Given that Sean Combs’ brutal assault against his girlfriend was recorded on video and that eight people, including Dawn, have now accused him of abuse in court documents, this arrest seems long overdue.”
She previously filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of manipulating, blackmailing and sexually abusing her. At the time, Diddy’s lawyer, Erica Wolf, released a statement on his behalf.
“It is unfortunate that Richard would abandon a 20-year friendship to try to extort money from him,” the statement read in part. “Mr. Combs is confident in his true story and looks forward to proving it in court.”
Foxy Brown
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The rapper shared his thoughts on Instagram Stories on September 17, writing, “This is about to get really crazy!!!”
50 Cent
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He appeared to criticize Diddy in a Sept. 17 social media post.
“I’m good friends with @thedrewbarrymoreshow but I don’t have 1,000 bottles of lotion in my house,” the rapper captioned a photo of himself with Drew Barrymore. The “lotion” comment appears to be a reference to the “over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lotion” that were seized from Diddy’s home in a Homeland Security raid in March of this year, as detailed in this week’s indictment.
RELATED: Breaking down the five most shocking allegations from Diddy’s 14-page indictment
Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on sex trafficking and extortion charges on Tuesday, September 17, one day after his arrest in New York. The 14-page indictment unsealed on Tuesday details a string of accusations against the rapper. According to the indictment, Diddy is alleged to have “abuse, intimidated and coerced women and other members of his public circle.” Some of the suspects include (…)
Charlemagne the God
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The radio host spoke on The Breakfast Club radio show on September 17 about the alleged “freak offs” described in Diddy’s indictment. (The “freak offs” were hotel room parties hosted by Diddy where women were allegedly forced to “engage in prolonged sexual acts with male prostitutes.”)
“If he’s going to be charged with extortion or sex trafficking for ‘Freak Off,’ there are other people involved. Like, if he’s ever been on a train with Diddy, he’s probably going to jail,” the comedian speculated. “If he was out somewhere with Diddy, fully naked or semi-naked, and there were women and men around and he said you were part of the party, he’d probably go to jail.”
“The View” host
ABC/Lou Rocco
Whoopi Goldberg called Diddy’s 14-page indictment “far-reaching and disturbing” on her show on September 17. Sunny Hostin, referring to the indictment, said Diddy engaged in “mob-like behavior.”
“They are describing a criminal ring that is trafficking minors across state lines to engage in sex acts, and they call them ‘perverts,'” she continued. “They searched his home and found 1,000 vials of lubricant. They searched his home and found drugs.”
Kesha
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The singer responded to the news of Diddy’s arrest by creating a TikTok video of her song “TiK ToK,” which features new lyrics dissing Diddy. She debuted the new version at Coachella earlier this year. (The original lyric was, “Wake up feeling like P. Diddy.”)
“I wake up like, ‘Fuck P. Diddy,'” the song goes, as Kesha flashes her middle finger at the camera, smiles and blows a kiss.
Moses Shine Barrow
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The former rapper claimed in a press conference that Diddy had “destroyed” his life, but added, “But do I feel any joy or satisfaction from what he’s going through? Absolutely not.”
LL Cool J
LL Cool J Fraser Harrison/Getty Images
Speaking to Sky News at the 2024 Black Music Action Coalition in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Sept. 19, the rapper said of Diddy, “I feel sorry for his kids. I can’t say anything else about it. There’s a court system for that. But I feel sorry for his kids.”
Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav Fraser Harrison/Getty Images
When asked by Sky News for his opinion on Diddy at the 2024 Black Music Action Coalition in Beverly Hills, California on September 19, Flavor Flav responded, “Hey, I’ll tell you, if anyone asks me what my opinion is on Diddy, you know what my opinion is? There’s nothing.”
Soulja Boy
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The rapper shared his thoughts via X on September 21. “If Diddy had come at me like he does with all the other gay rappers I would have killed the freak out of him,” he wrote, seemingly referencing the “freak off” detailed in the indictment.
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Damon Dash
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The Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder addressed resurfaced photos of him attending a party hosted by Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, and Diddy. “I didn’t go to that party,” he said during an Instagram Live on September 22. “I went to a party in the Hamptons with Aaliyah, like 20 years ago, but that’s about it. But there were a lot of people there, you know?”
The mogul continued, “Nothing happens in the Hamptons. That’s the day I met (Aaliyah). We hung out there and went home. That’s what happened. That was 20 years ago and it wasn’t in LA or Miami. I know they’re trying to whitewash that picture. That’s fine, I don’t care.”
He further called Diddy’s arrest “sad” and “shocking,” adding, “People just sit and watch people do immoral things but nobody says anything until they get caught. To me, whether it’s illegal or immoral, I just jump on board. I don’t wait for people to get arrested. I don’t wait for someone to say they’re doing something wrong.”
