Taye Diggs admitted she didn't know about the dark side of sex offender Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“I felt so naive when I heard things like that, because I…I don't know where I am, but all of that was blinding me,” Diggs said. Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson spoke on Thursday's episode of their podcast “Sibling Revelry.”
The “Rent” star, 53, said he always looked up to the Bad Boy Records founder as a role model, even before all the abuse allegations came to light.
“He was a hero to me. I loved that about him…He didn't come from a great background, he started out as a dancer. All the things that I wasn't, growing up he was ” Diggs said. “He was so confident and had a certain arrogance that I loved and made it cool to be black.”
Diggs praised Diddy for wearing his blackness “as a badge.”
“I really messed him up and it was disappointing to see what happened,” Diggs continued. “I couldn't believe it. And I didn't like the feeling.”
The Broadway actor said learning of all the accusations against Combs was a “double-edged sword” for him.
“On the one hand, I think it's great for people to know that this is happening,” Diggs said. “We can think of life as being lived a certain way, and we can think of people as living a certain way, but they can be the exact opposite and become accustomed to it. ”
The “I'll Be Missing You” artist, 54, was arrested on September 16 and charged with three counts of racketeering conspiracy, extortion, and conspiracy. Sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Transportation for engaging in prostitution.
In an unsealed indictment, prosecutors say Combs spent decades “abusing, threatening, and coercing women and others to satisfy his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his actions.” ' he claimed.
He is also charged with “creating a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.”
Combs is being held without bail in a New York City jail and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In November 2023, the music mogul's reputation took a hit when his ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cathy” Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing him of raping and abusing her throughout their 10-year relationship.
Combs, known for hosting wild parties featuring white stars, initially denied the charges and settled the lawsuit the next day. But in 2016, he was forced to issue a public apology after a horrifying video of Mr Combs brutally beating Mr Cathy in a hotel was leaked.
At least a dozen people have filed legal complaints against the father of her seven children since the “Me & You” singer bravely came forward about his abuse.
Combs is reportedly scheduled to testify in his sex trafficking trial, his lawyer announced this week.
His lawyer Mark Agnifilo revealed that Diddy is “very passionate about telling his story.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call our Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
