NEWS
Fans and supporters of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have celebrated his recent acquittal of sex trafficking charges by dousing themselves in baby oil outside of a New York courthouse.
Yesterday, a jury reached a verdict for the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – finding him guilty of transportation for prostitution, but innocent of racketeering and sex trafficking.
The rapper and music mogul pleaded not guilty to all five charges – including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of transportation for prostitution and two counts of sex trafficking.
Following the jury’s verdict, fans of the rapper and mogul who were outside of the courthouse, erupted into cheers and celebration, including several of them pouring baby oil onto their bodies. Signs and merchandise with the words “A freako, not a R.I.C.O” were also visible.
Fans’ use of baby oil was a reference to the thousands of baby oil bottles that were seized by authorities from Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami homes in the lead-up to the trial. The baby oil played a major role in the case, as prosecution and witnesses detailed its use during Diddy’s infamous “freak offs”.
Clips shared on social media see a group of fans outside the courthouse pouring baby oil on themselves and others as they celebrated the verdict.
The trial has been running since May, and the vast majority of the court time has been centred around the prosecution’s case. On the charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking of Cassie Venture, and sex trafficking of a woman going by the name “Jane”, Diddy was found not guilty.
He was found guilty, however, of transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others, and of transportation for prostitution of “Jane” and others. The transportation to engage in prostitution charge carries the least time in prison compared to what he could have been served, and the maximum amount of time he now faces in jail is 10 years for each charge.
After the verdict was shared, Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo, argued that the hip-hop mogul should walk out of the court as a free man following months of being in a federal jail. He also suggested that Diddy being acquitted on the most serious charges means that he should be allowed to be released and be able to live in his Florida home on a $1million (£734,700) bond.
The rapper has since been denied bail, and will remain in jail until his sentencing. The trial’s judge has suggested the sentencing take place on October 3, but will consider an earlier date per Reuters.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
Perry Farrell has released another public apology following an on-stage confrontation involving his bandmate Dave Navarro.
The Jane's Addiction frontman was involved in a physical altercation with guitarist Dave Navarro last year during a live performance, an incident that prompted the band to cancel their reunion tour and eventually led to their split.
“I'd like to address what happened on stage last year,” Perry, 66, said in a statement shared across both his personal Instagram account and Jane's Addiction’s official page. “I've reflected on it and know I didn't handle myself the way I should have. I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and for disrupting the show.”
He went on to admit that he did not meet fan expectations and described himself as deeply remorseful toward everyone impacted by the incident.
“Jane's Addiction has been at the center of my life for decades. The band, the songs, the patrons, and the impact that we've had on music and culture mean more to me than any words I could ever possibly write down,” he shared.
“My aim has always been to give our audience the best possible show, something real, honest and positive. In Boston, we fell short of that, and I'm truly sorry to everyone who was impacted.”
Jane's Addiction also issued its own statement regarding the altercation, which ultimately led to the group’s remaining members filing a lawsuit against Perry alleging assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.
“Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane's Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together,” the band wrote, signaling that the group would not move forward with Perry. “We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors.”
