The Charges Against Diddy Explained: What Did He Do?

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On September 16, 2024, Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested, rocking the music and entertainment industry at large to its core. As one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, his arrest alone was a bombshell, but that paled in comparison to the indictment that followed. The charges against Diddy are shocking and based on alleged criminal activity dating back to 2009, so there’s a lot to uncover there. With all the recent rush of information, it can be difficult to keep up or even understand the extent of the crimes Diddy is being accused of. Here’s a simple breakdown of the Diddy charges to help you stay in the loop:


Racketeering Charges

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Racketeering is quite a complex term, but it essentially means running an organized criminal operation. In Diddy's case, prosecutors are saying he ran a group of people who worked together to commit illegal activities over many years. These activities included things like trafficking people for sex, forcing people to work for him without their consent, bribing others to cover up crimes, and even distributing drugs. In other words, the government is accusing Diddy of using his businesses and the people around him to commit a wide array of crimes and cover them up. It’s like he had his own criminal team; Diddy was the boss and people on his payroll or under his influence were helping him run the entire operation.

Sex Trafficking Charges

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Diddy is also accused of forcing or tricking people into performing sexual acts for money. Prosecutors say that from 2009 to 2018, Diddy recruited women and made them engage in sexual activities against their will. He allegedly used threats, manipulation, and even drugs to control these women and force them to do what he wanted. This means Diddy has allegedly taken advantage of vulnerable people by using his power, money, and influence, forcing them into sex work.

In addition to the sex trafficking charges, Diddy is also being accused of physical abuse. Prosecutors claim that Diddy has a long history of being violent toward women, dating back to at least 2009. This includes hitting, kicking, and throwing things at them. There is even a video from 2016 that shows Diddy dragging and abusing his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie, in a hotel. Diddy has denied all these accusations, but the physical abuse claims add another layer to the charges he’s facing.

Transportation for Prostitution Charges

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Last but not least, Diddy is accused of moving people across state lines, or even to different countries, for the purpose of prostitution. Prosecutors allege that Diddy paid to fly women and male sex workers to wherever he was, so they could take part in what he called "freak offs."

According to prosecutors, “freak offs” parties where Diddy would gather people—some willing, some not—to take part in drug-fueled sexual activities. The indictment says that Diddy and his team planned every detail of these parties, making sure drugs were available and that everything was kept secret afterward. They even had IV fluids on hand to help people recover after days of partying.

Prosecutors also claim that Diddy would film these events without the women’s knowledge, using the videos to control or threaten them later. In some cases, the women say they were tricked into thinking they were in romantic relationships with Diddy, only to be forced into these “freak offs.”

What Does Baby Oil Have to Do with All This?

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You’ve probably heard a lot about baby oil in the online chatter about Diddy’s charges. It may seem out of pocket, but it’s not. In March 2024, federal agents conducted raids on Diddy’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles as part of the investigation into his alleged sex trafficking and related crimes. During those raids, authorities seized over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, which are described as his “freak off” supplies. Such a large quantity of baby oil paints quite a picture of how extensive and organized the alleged “freak off” parties were.

What Happens Next?

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Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and his lawyer says they will fight the accusations in court, so a trial is coming. Meanwhile, Diddy will remain at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His lawyers tried to get him released on bail, offering $50 million, but the judge denied it because of the severity of the charges and the risk that Diddy might try to influence witnesses before the trial.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse, you can seek help by contacting the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

bop the bigot video game logo

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

a woman giving the side eye to a man

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