In a courtroom shocker that’s reverberating around the web, music kingpin Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in a high-profile federal trial that has captivated the nation for months. While Diddy was acquitted of the most serious charges, he was convicted on a lesser count of transportation to engage in prostitution, so the verdict was surprising and also divisive.
After the New York City jury’s divided verdict on Wednesday morning, fans and detractors went berserk on social media, blindsided by the ruling. In the immediate minutes following the verdict not guilty on the major counts, outrage and disbelief rippled, punctuated by hot takes. “The Diddy verdict is a stark display of privilege and the persistent disbelief of women. Absolutely revolting,” wrote one user, expressing a sentiment that was shared by many online. Another wrote, “Diddy is about to go on the greatest rebrand in american history and yall all gonna fall for it,” a reference to his reputation for reinvention and ownership of his public narrative.
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Though some of Diddy’s supporters cheered what they saw as a legal vindication, the divided verdict complicates that celebration. The count, while not the weight of the original allegations, still leaves a legal cloud over his head and could impact his likelihood of being freed from custody immediately. Legal professionals are also responding strongly to the outcome. “Not guilty on both the RICO and trafficking counts is as bad as it can get for them. When is their press conference??,” legal journalist Meghann Cuniff wrote.
The message was a decisive shrug. The broader legal community seemed to believe that the government had not succeeded in making its argument stick where it mattered most. As this verdict spreads across the world, we find divided public opinion on what the next steps should be. Will Diddy try to make a comeback, or will the court of public opinion be less forgiving than a jury? For now, though, all eyes are on what happens in the hours ahead and whether Diddy leaves, if temporarily, a partially free man or walks right into the next battle over his legacy.
