The Sean “Diddy” Combs trial reveals a troubling truth: the powerful continue to shift blame onto victims at every opportunity. This trial is a microcosm of a dangerous backlash that seeks to diminish the voices of survivors and preserve a culture in which men feel entitled to exploit women, while those who endure violence are shamed and intimidated into silence.
Allegations against Combs are deeply troubling, extending far beyond sensationalized narratives of wild parties. They include serious reports of human trafficking, workplace harassment and sexual assault. The details of these allegations — coercion, control, violent outbursts — depict a pattern of behavior that many survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault know all too well.
Every defendant deserves a rigorous defense — this is a bedrock democratic principle. Yet we must interrogate the familiar and destructive playbook of Combs’ defense team, because it tells us something important about our culture. After all, they’re doing it because it works.
When Cassie Ventura accused Combs of rape, his defense attorney produced a series of text messages between Ventura and Combs, asking Ventura “you don’t say anything to the effect of, ‘Last time we saw each other you raped me?’ ” The suggestion is that survivors must be lying if they did not confront their abuser right away, yet we know that’s not how trauma works. One defense attorney urged jurors to consider the motive of all witnesses — including the survivors. And they are claiming that survivors courageous enough to testify in support of a fellow survivor must have a financial motive.
While the defense defines consent as a complex, nuanced topic, especially in the context of intimate relationships, they are simply wrong. Consent is about communication, reciprocity and trust — and can only happen in the absence of coercion and fear.
A survivor’s choices are shaped by our culture, and by the predictable effects of trauma. What may look like consent is often survival or self-preservation.
The suggestion that survivors in this case gave consent diminishes their experiences and reinforces harmful stereotypes that blame survivors for the violence they endure. The treatment of survivors in this case can have a ripple effect, impacting how society views and supports survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. When they are portrayed as unreliable or complicit, it reinforces a culture that prioritizes the protection of abusers over the well-being of survivors.
This narrative, in such a high-profile case, sends a chilling message to other survivors. This is particularly concerning because survivors already face significant barriers to reporting abuse, including fear of retaliation, stigma and a lack of trust in the legal system.
We must work to create an environment where survivors feel safe and supported in coming forward by challenging the narratives that seek to undermine their experiences and advocating for policies that prioritize survivors’ rights and protections. We also need to educate the public about the realities of surviving an abusive relationship, so we can foster a culture of understanding and empathy.
The issues at play in the Combs case are not isolated. They reflect a systemic problem that affects countless individuals across the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in 4 women and one in 7 men have experienced severe intimate partner violence. The prevalence of sexual assault is similarly alarming, with nearly one in 5 women and one in 71 men experiencing rape in their lifetime. These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive support services for survivors, as well as a commitment to holding abusers accountable.
Perhaps most important of all, we need to challenge and change the culture of violence. Speak out when someone suggests that a survivor “asked for it.” Write a letter to the editor — when an article reports that a survivor is alleged to have consented to sexual violence — to demand that such allegations be put in context by reporting that “victim blaming” supports a culture of violence.
As we await the conclusion of the trial, we must seize the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about the treatment of survivors and the importance of consent.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the survivors who have bravely come forward to testify. They are a beacon of hope for those who feel trapped, and they remind us all that the truth, no matter how painful, must be heard. All of us must stand with survivors, not just during high-profile trials but every day. That is the only way to ensure lasting change.
Roberts is a social worker and CEO of Safe Horizon, the nation’s leading victim and survivor assistance and advocacy organization.
