Another week, another series of bombshells from the music world related to sexual assault. First, Diddy.
The avalanche of stories about Sean (Diddy) Combs and his “crazy parties” involve everything from alleged sexual assault and sex trafficking to kidnapping, weapons charges, drug use and arson. Memes involving the more than 1,000 bottles of lube and baby oil (allegedly laced with the party drug GHB) are everywhere, as are those showing the Los Angeles police standing next to a seized barrel full of 750 dildos.
More reports emerge every day about which celebrities some speculate may have been involved, what some alleged they did, the bribes and cover-ups, the conspiracy theories, and the allegations brought forward by more than 100 whistleblowers.
Diddy’s alleged behaviors are said to be decades old. He is in a Brooklyn detention center awaiting trial (probably in April or May), isolated from other inmates for his own safety. Meanwhile, there is Jeffrey Epstein-level concern about who and what Diddy knows.
Then there’s the case of Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley who, in his new memoir, Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and HellHe alleges that the band’s former manager and producer, Greig Nori, pressured him into performing non-consensual sexual acts when Whibley was just 16 years old. (Nori says these stories are false and has reportedly hired a defamation lawyer.) Watch how that all plays out.
On Thursday, investigators investigating Marilyn Manson announced that they are reviewing a trove of new evidence involving sexual abuse, rape and torture. This is in addition to all the other accusations that have been leveled at him in recent years. The new claims come just as Manson attempts to restart his once-cancelled music career.
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Meanwhile, there’s the ongoing saga of Jacob Hoggard, Hedley’s former lead singer. While he was acquitted of one sexual assault charge earlier this month, there are others. On Thursday he gave up trying to get the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a conviction for assaulting a woman in a Toronto hotel room in 2016. He is currently serving a five-year sentence for that attack.
He list of “problematic artists” those who have been accused of abuse and assault continue: Michael Jackson, R Kelly, Jian Ghomeshi, Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, producer Dr. Luke, Diplo, Gary Glitter, Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins’ horrific pedophile crimes, Chris Brown, Kodak Black, Sean Kingston and British rapper Slowthai.
There is a lot to take in and each week brings more stories. However, the truth is that this kind of thing has been happening since the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll. Chuck Berry went to jail for statutory rape. Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman with their childhood girlfriends. David Bowie slept with some of the Los Angeles “Baby Groupies.” Jimmy Page took a 14-year-old boy on tour with him.
Back then (a less enlightened time, no doubt) people looked the other way. These behaviors were considered part of the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, the very thing that attracted millions to the world of music. And before social media, those crimes and indiscretions were easy (well, easier) to cover up.
So why this avalanche of stories now? A couple of reasons.
The MeToo movement began in 2006 when Tarana Burke, a sexual assault survivor, began using the phrase on MySpace as a way to encourage victims to speak out. The #MeToo hashtag first appeared on social media in 2017, bringing more attention to the issue. The result has been a wave of empathy, empowerment and solidarity by and for victims of sexual assault. Knowing that this type of belief and support exists makes victims more likely to come forward. And they have done so, some publicly, others anonymously.
Another reason people decide to come forward now has to do with organizations like RAIN (National Rape, Abuse and Incest Network) stepping up to help with education, support and a friendly ear. If they believe you and support you, you will be more willing to trust someone.
Then there are several laws that have come into force in recent years. In New York State there is the Adult Survivors Law, which opened a unique window for older victims of sexual assault. It was under this law that E. Jean Carroll was able to successfully sue Donald Trump for sexual assault. That law opened the doors for at least 2,500 people to seek justice, including the cases opened against Diddy and Russell Brand. California has something similar, but limits the time limit for filing a charge to three years and only applies to alleged crimes that occurred after January 1, 2009.
There is the ubiquity of smartphones. Privacy and secrecy can disappear in an instant. Distribution of incriminating evidence can be done in seconds. Some people realized it late and are now being exposed for videos, photos and audio they didn’t know existed.
Without a doubt, the music industry is long overdue for a thorough #MeToo reckoning. Society’s tolerance for bad and illegal behavior has changed dramatically. The more stories that are exposed, the more people will come forward.
Interesting times await us.
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