Since news broke of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ arrest and charges of trafficking and sexual assault, journalists have been obsessed with several bizarre emerging details. Throughout the week, stories about “freak-offs” and the discovery of 1,000 bottles of baby oil seized by the FBI have dominated headlines. But Diddy has not been arrested for being “freaky” — he has been accused of coercive control, and sexual violence. The focus should be on the sustained and systemic violence endured by the victims. This misdirection from the media exemplifies a troubling trend where sensational details distract from the acts of violence, diminishing their gravity and distorting public perception.
As outlined in our Media Guidelines for Reporting Domestic Abuse Deaths, ethical journalism should prioritise accuracy and accountability, ensuring that focus remains on the crime rather than on irrelevant details
By fixating on salacious elements, like the baby oil, the media trivialises the experiences of the victims and risks creating sympathy for the accused. In Diddy’s case, these charges are rooted in decades-long patterns of coercive control and sexual violence. By wielding his wealth, power and status, Diddy, and those who enable him, have built an infrastructure that maintains, feeds and obscures his sexual violence. These are the issues that deserve the full weight of public attention, focusing on anything else detracts from the depth of his violence and reinforces a culture of silence and victim-blaming that enables abuse to thrive unchecked.
These dangerous narratives are particularly harmful in the context of the music industry, which has been plagued by reports of systemic violence, exploitation, and sexual abuse for generations. High-profile figures often wield significant power over others, leading to environments where violence against women and other marginalised people can thrive. The media’s failure to properly highlight these allegations contributes to a culture of impunity. For example, the case of Tim Westwood in the U.K and R.Kelly in the U.S – glaring examples of how the music industry often overlooks violence and abuse until it reaches a tipping point.
Research shows that sensationalist media coverage often evokes sympathy for perpetrators rather than victims, particularly when quirky or unusual details are highlighted. Such reporting distorts the reality of the crime and can even result in lighter sentencing for the accused, while minimising the suffering of victims. The media’s responsibility here is clear: by focusing on the facts of the case, they help bring much-needed attention to systemic issues of abuse and hold powerful individuals accountable.
The music industry’s history of violence and misconduct should not be buried under sensationalist stories. Allegations like those against Diddy are not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of power abuse that has been allowed to deepen over decades. By shifting the focus away from sensational details and back onto the acts of violence, the media can play a crucial role in addressing these systemic issues and supporting victims in their pursuit of justice.
Let’s keep the narrative focused on justice, not distractions.
Resources:
For more information on the dangers of sensationalising domestic violence cases, refer to the Media Guidelines for Reporting Domestic Abuse Deaths.
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