Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges on Wednesday, following an eight-week federal trial. The verdict immediately sparked a wave of reactions online, ranging from disbelief to outrage.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on two of the five counts after three days of deliberations. Upon hearing the decision, Combs held his hands in a prayer motion and embraced defense attorney Teny Geragos, according to The Associated Press.
The 55-year-old disgraced mogul now faces up to 10 years in prison. Many on social media expressed shock and outrage over the outcome.
“The Diddy jury verdict shocked me. I wasn’t expecting anything other than guilty on all charges,” one X user wrote. “So let me get this straight: Diddy was found NOT guilty of sex trafficking . . . but somehow guilty of transporting someone for prostitution? How does that even work?” another asked.
“This is a staggeringly big loss for federal prosecutors,” journalist Meghann Cuniff posted on X. “Not guilty on both the RICO and trafficking counts is as bad as it can get for them. When is their press conference??”
Some critics raised concerns about the precedent the ruling might set for future sex crime prosecutions. “This Diddy trial is proof that you can do anything if you got money,” one person wrote. “The Diddy verdict is a stark display of privilege and the persistent disbelief of women. Absolutely revolting,” another posted.
Others focused on the public reaction to the verdict. “These Diddy takes are about to be cringe-worthy,” one user commented. “The worst people you know gonna celebrate the Diddy verdict like it’s some kind of a win,” another X user wrote. One prediction read: “Diddy is about to go on the greatest rebrand in American history and y’all all gonna fall for it.”
50 Cent, a longtime rival of Combs, shared an Instagram post referring to him as the “Gay John Gotti”—a nod to the infamous mafia boss known as the “Teflon Don” for repeatedly avoiding conviction in the 1980s.
In response to the verdict, UltraViolet, a women’s rights organization, released a statement: “This is a decisive moment for our justice system, one which threatens to undo the sacrifice of courageous survivors who stepped forward to share their stories in this trial, as well as to all those abused by Diddy who weren’t able to,” said Arisha Hatch, the organization’s interim executive director, according to The New York Times.
