The Unraveling of Sean Combs: 
How Legislation from the #MeToo Movement Brought Diddy Down

By Kara Bellew | Published November 22, 2024 | New York Law Journal

On Sept. 17, 2024, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted rapper and producer Sean Combs (also known as “Puff Daddy” or “Diddy”) in the Southern District of New York. In a 14-page, three-count indictment, the DoJ brought charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution against Combs.

The DOJ alleged that Combs, enabled by his vast business network and powerful celebrity status, perpetuated heinous acts of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse against multiple women. His indictment attracted widespread public attention and renewed focus on the role of race, celebrity and abuse of power in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement.