Celebrities Have Spoken Out About the ‘Dangerous’ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Verdict
After Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ shocking acquittal on three of the five charges against him, a handful of celebrities have expressed their frustration at the verdict and support for Combs’ former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Here’s how Combs’ peers have reacted to the end of his trial.
Evan Rachel Wood posted about consent
Evan Rachel Wood accused former partner Marilyn Manson of abusing her throughout their relationship. This year, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office declined to file charges against Manson, due to a lack of evidence at the statute of limitations. In the actor’s reaction to the Diddy verdict, she wrote about the impossibility of consent in an abusive relationship.
“There is no consent in a domestic violence relationship. Period. Once the threat of violence is there, you comply. You do not consent,” she wrote on Instagram, adding, “It is self preservation and survival. It is not freely or willingly given. It is forced and coerced out of you. We clearly have a long way to go in our understanding of this.”
Kesha was one of many celebrities who posted about Cassie Ventura after the Diddy verdict
In 2014, Kesha sued producer Dr. Luke for sexual assault. They ultimately settled the lawsuit in 2023, before the case went to trial.
Kesha also changed the lyrics of her song “Tik Tok” from “I wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy” to “wake up in the morning, like, ‘F*** P. Diddy'” at a recent show. She posted about her respect for Ventura after the verdict.
“Cassie, I believe you,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.”
Christina Ricci also said she stood with Cassie Ventura
Christina Ricci, a spokesperson for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) also posted about Ventura.
“Sending so much love and respect to [Cassie Ventura] today,” she wrote. “She is an inspiration and a hero and I stand with her.”
Rosie O’Donnell was among the celebrities who expressed anger at the Diddy verdict
Rosie O’Donnell expressed her anger and frustration at the verdict on her Instagram account.
“I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion – wow – they just think women stay because of what? Money – fame – ‘they love the abuse’ – what a f***ing joke. This decision got me angry.”
Mariska Hargitay shared powerful posts
Mariska Hargitay, the longtime star of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, did not write her own message, but she shared posts from Glamour on her Instagram account. The first addressed Combs directly.
“We won’t forget what we saw you did to Cassie on that video,” it read.
“Combs joins a long line of powerful and famous men who have allegedly engaged in abuse, yet faced minimal consequence,” read the second post.
John Rich said the verdict made him ill
The Big & Rich artist also expressed disgust on social media, calling the verdict a win for abusers.
“Wicked and perverted child abusers across America are celebrating the Sean Combs verdicts today,” he wrote. “I’m sick to my stomach and can’t stop gritting my teeth. I pray The Father exercises His judgement upon them beyond anything a court could ever do. Can I get an amen from the people of The Lord?”
Aubrey O’Day has been one of Diddy’s biggest celebrity critics
Aubrey O’Day, who worked with Combs on Making the Band, has been an outspoken critic of Combs throughout the trial. She said the verdict devastated her.
“Let’s be clear: the courtroom operates by the law, but that DOES NOT mean it delivers justice,” she wrote. “Nor is it the best place to develop the moral compass this world so urgently needs. The pattern of behavior Sean Combs has shown us over the decades is not a mystery. It’s a warning. And now, that pattern risks being reframed — and has now been legitimized by the system. This wasn’t Bonnie and Clyde — it was control, coercion, and abuse — and we have to stop rewriting history to excuse the behavior and start normalizing accountability — no matter how powerful the person. That narrative is not just dishonest. It’s dangerous.”
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
