after Sean “Diddy” Combs, Following the arrest in New York City on Tuesday, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have weighed in. Others, including Combs’ former and current friends, have remained silent out of “fear,” according to one expert.
The music icon has been charged with racketeering, forced sex trafficking, sex trafficking by fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
While the high-profile case has sparked responses from 50 Cent, Aubrey O’Day, Kesha, Mary J. Blige and more, others who have been linked to Combs in the past — Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Ashton Kutcher and Jay-Z, none of whom are involved in the criminal case — have remained notably silent.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted in New York on Tuesday on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. (Shayan Asgarnia)
“Celebrities are keeping quiet because they fear their brand will lose fans because of its association with Diddy. And, worse yet, they fear that if they oppose Diddy, things could be disastrous,” Eric Schiffer, CEO of Reputation Management Consultants, told Fox News Digital.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested after raid and human trafficking investigation
Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, said there is “no shortage of reasons” why Combs’ acquaintances have not commented on the matter.
“Aside from 50 Cent, the majority of the music and entertainment industry has either remained silent or spoken only in hushed tones about the rumors — and now the federal indictment — surrounding P. Diddy,” Eldridge said.
“Given the severity of the allegations, the accusations detailed in the indictment, and the long-standing rumors surrounding Combs, there is no shortage of reasons why celebrities would prefer to stay quiet for the time being, but here are a few of those reasons.
“First of all, the nature of the allegations is quite horrific — ranging from sex trafficking to alleged drug trafficking, and so on,” he said. “The scope and scale of the evidence collected during the federal raid includes phones, computers, and now over 50 individuals who are reportedly cooperating as witnesses.
“Third, the alleged depth and reach of people participating in Diddy’s illicit sex parties who may have been accomplices — and, therefore, complicit — is staggering.”
Here’s a look at the stars who have spoken out about Combs’ indictment, and those who haven’t.
Stars who did not speak openly
Jennifer Lopez
Lopez and Combs dated from 1999 to 2001. (Lopez is not involved in Combs’ criminal case.) (Getty Images)
Combs dated Jennifer Lopez She worked with Kim during her break from Kim Porter from 1999 to 2001 but called it quits due to his alleged infidelity.
In 2003, Lopez spoke to Vibe about the breakup, telling the outlet, “It was the first time I was with someone who wasn’t faithful. I was in this relationship with Puff (Combs) where I was completely crying, getting mad and going crazy. It really messed up my whole life.
Diddy charged with sex trafficking and racketeering after arrest
“I never caught him, but I knew. He would say he was going to the club for a few hours and then never come back that night.”
Combs attended Lopez’s Las Vegas residency after-party. (Getty Images)
The two reunited in 2018 at a party after his residency in Las Vegas.
A rep for Lopez did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Ashton Kutcher
Combs and Kutcher first met while hosting the MTV show. (Kutcher is not involved in Combs’ criminal case.) (Getty Images)
Kutcher and Combs, who first met while hosting various TV shows on MTV, have a years-long friendship.
The “That ’70s Show” actor first befriended Combs over their shared love of pranking people. During an appearance on “Hot Ones” in 2019, Kutcher was overwhelmed with his memories and couldn’t pick one “party story” of Diddy to share.
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“Wow, I have so much I can’t tell. I can’t even tell her,” Kutcher said. “Actually cycling between them. … Our relationship is really bizarre because it started over again ,He said, “I said, ‘I was punk’ because he was like, ‘Yo, you can’t punk me.’ I said, ‘I don’t know what to tell you, everybody’s at the table.'”
Diddy flatly stated, “I’m not, I’m not discussing that topic.”
“So, that’s where our conversation started,” Kuchar said.
Earlier this year, a source told the Daily Mail that Kutcher would not be involved in the investigation into Combs.
“It’s unlikely that Ashton or Mila (Kunis) will show any kind of public support for Diddy at this time,” the source said. “Despite their long history with Ashton, they have distanced themselves from Diddy since (ex-girlfriend) Cassie’s lawsuit, and even more so since the new lawsuits.”
A rep for Kutcher did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
jay z
Combs and Jay-Z both rose to fame around the same time with their various hip-hop ventures. (Jay-Z is not involved in Combs’ criminal case.) (Getty Images)
Jay-Z and Combs rose to fame in the early ’90s for their respective hip-hop careers.
They have supported each other for many years and have been spotted at many parties together. In 1997, the pair collaborated on a track that was included on Combs’ debut studio album, “No Way Out.”
During an appearance on the “Sway in the Morning” program in 2015, Combs discussed his future plans to do business with Jay-Z.
“Me and Jay have talked about it. We said we want to pick the best,” he said via Vibe. “It has to be something that makes it totally pop.
“I think that’s the only way we’re going to have true economic power. If we work together even more. That’s the next level of hip hop.”
A rep for Jay-Z did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Naomi Campbell
Campbell is celebrating Combs’ 54th birthday in 2023. (Campbell is not involved in Combs’ criminal case.) (Getty Images)
Combs’ longtime friend Naomi Campbell threw a lavish 54th birthday party for the rapper in 2023.
However, shortly after Cassie’s lawsuit, in which Cassie accused Combs of abuse and sex trafficking that same year, Campbell deleted all posts of her and Combs from her social media.
A rep for Campbell did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Stars who spoke out
Aubrey O’Day
Aubrey O’Day, who was previously part of Combs’ girl group, Danity Kane, has opened up about the music legend’s recent arrest. (Getty Images)
O’Day, a former member of Combs’ girl band, Danity Kane, has been outspoken about her feelings about Combs over the years.
“The purpose of justice is to provide closure and give us the space to write a new chapter,” he wrote. X (formerly Twitter) After her arrest, she said, “Women never get it. I feel validated. Today is not just my victory, but the victory of women all over the world. Things are finally changing.”
50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent has trolled Combs over the years. (Getty Images)
Shortly after Combs’ arrest, 50 Cent responded in a social media post.
“I’m in good company here @thedrewbarrymoreshow and I don’t have 1,000 bottles at home,” he captioned a photo with Drew Barrymore. The rapper was apparently referring to the “over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant” found during raids at Combs’ homes in March.
Shine
Former rapper Shyne says Combs “ruined” his life after a 1999 nightclub shootout. (Getty Images)
Shyne, a former Bad Boy rapper and current politician in Belize, discuss their history With the late music emperor.
“When I was 18 years old, wanting to do nothing more than make my mom and Belize proud, be recognized for my talent and take over the world, I was defending him. And he turned around and called witnesses to testify against me. He sent me to jail,” Shyne said during a press conference on Wednesday.
“I forgive. I move on. But we shouldn’t pretend I was in Miami for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Shyne, who now serves as the opposition leader in the Belize House of Representatives, was a rising star in the hip-hop world when he signed with Bad Boy Records in 1998. A year later, Shyne joined forces with Diddy and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer LopezGunfire erupted at the now-closed Club New York in Times Square. Three people were injured.
Shyne and Combs appeared together at a concert in London in 2023. (Getty Images)
Combs was found not guilty at trial, while Shine was found guilty on five of the eight counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Upon release, Shine was deported to Belize.
Shine insisted, “Let’s not ignore what the truth is. This is not someone I’ve spent holidays with and enjoyed this great, intimate relationship of brotherhood with.”
“This is the man who ruined my life, and who I forgave, and who I moved on with, and that too for the better interest of Belize because he was in a position at the time to give scholarships and perhaps invest. I would not rule out an effort to bring investment to Belize and contribute to education in Belize.
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“Am I happy with what I’m doing with it? Absolutely not. I’m different from other people. My success doesn’t require anybody else to fail.”
Kesha
Kesha recently announced plans to change the lyrics of her song “Tik Tok,” which references Combs. (Getty Images)
one of TikTok video shared by the singer On Wednesday, Kesha officially changed the lyrics to her hit song “Tik Tok.”
The original song, released in 2009, features lyrics like, “Waking up in the morning feeling like P Diddy.”.” IKesha shared her new version in a social media video with the alternate line, “Feeling like F—p Diddy.”
In August, the 37-year-old singer announced her plans to legally change the lyrics.
Mary J. Blige
Blige and Combs have often supported each other over the past several years. However, after Combs’ homes were raided in March during a federal investigation, the Grammy winner shared a cryptic message on Instagram in which he spoke of burning bridges “if needed.” (Getty Images)
In March, after Combs’ homes were raided during a federal investigation, the Grammy winner shared a cryptic message on Instagram that said, “Unfortunately many of you met me when I lacked boundaries and was a people pleaser. Let me reintroduce myself, I burn bridges as needed.”
Blige’s relationship with Combs stretches back decades. Her first two studio albums, “What’s the 411?” and “My Life,” both came from the rapper in the 1990s.
Combs appeared in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty. Combs was not only denied the proposed $50 million bail, but was also sent to jail immediately following the hearing.
he has gone Placed on regular suicide watch He is awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a source told Fox News Digital on Friday.
The source said that “this is common for high-profile individuals as they are admitted into a federal facility, and is not an indication of their mental state.”
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Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright and Laurin Overhultz contributed to this post.
