Sean "Diddy" Combs, a judge in the reality music competition "The Four," attend the Fox Networks Group 2018 programming presentation afterparty at Wollman Rink in Central Park on Monday, May 14, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
In the entertainment industry, mentors and power brokers make careers. Especially in music, many artists use their entrepreneurial skills and connections to form record labels and launch others into stardom, making them hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.
That was the story for Sean “Diddy” Combs, a hip-hop and R&B artist who boasts a net worth of around $1 billion. Now, he’s in jail, awaiting trial for dozens of charges of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and abuse of minors. Who is Sean Combs, and what can his life teach us about accountability?
Who is Sean “Diddy” Combs?
Sean Combs, formerly known by his stage names “Puff Daddy”, “P. Diddy,” and, now, “Diddy,” is an American rapper, record producer, and, in essence, Hip-Hop royalty. He came from poverty, grew up in Harlem, and attended an all-boys Catholic school. From 1990 onwards, he became renowned for his parties, which sometimes brought in over 1,000 participants. He eventually created his own label company, which would help define East Coast ‘90s hip-hop.
The hitmaker came alongside as diverse a group of musicians as Justin Bieber, Usher, and Mariah Carey. He was a multi-Grammy-winning artist, and even nearly released a full Gospel album in the early 2000s. In 2023, he said during the release of a new album, “God told me it was time [to return to music].”
Sean Comb’s controversies and sexual abuse allegations
He was controversial from the start. One of his parties caused a stampede where nine people died. He was a central figure in the infamous rap feud that left Biggie & Tupac murdered in the late ‘90s. He celebrated a debauched, sexualized, party lifestyle that included drugs, drinking, and orgies.
Nevertheless, young stars often came under his wing. When he was only 13, R&B singer Usher lived with him to learn from his industry mentorship. As one critic for Vulture writes, Combs “shook off decades of rumored bad behavior with wholesome PR revamps.”
Combs faced fresh controversy last year when his ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him, alleging he physically abused and raped her. They settled out of court in a $30 million suit, but the floodgates opened. Since then, over one-hundred people claim he assaulted them in various ways from the early ‘90s onward. He’s being held and charged with sexual misconduct, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and even sexual abuse of minors. Combs denies all allegations.
Justice and accountability
We must always resist the temptation to condemn someone before their hearing in court. In the US judicial system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. However, given his proven record of behavior, the allegations seem unlikely to turn out false.
The weight of the damage caused by what, to the flesh, seems like partying and extravagant fun, is impossible to calculate. God hears and knows the suffering of every victim. Justice on earth is, at best, only a shadow of the ultimate justice that comes to all.
As we consider Combs’ monstrous choices that have hurt countless people, possibly including minors, we must also interrogate our hearts. What would you or I do with that much money, influence, and power? God judges our innermost being as he judges another man with power who thought he was above justice: King David.
King David and accountability
On one famous occasion, David used his power and influence to have sex with Bathsheba. He then abused that same power to essentially kill her husband—a faithful friend and soldier—to cover up for his sexual abuse of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11–12).
It takes at least three things to convict David.
- God’s movement: The Lord, displeased, “sent Nathan to David” (2 Samuel 12:1). This easily missed passage shows how God brings about discipline for the one he loves (Revelation 3:19).
- A friend’s courage: Nathan, a prophet of God, speaks with authority to convict him. Given that speaking against the king could merit death, Nathan risked much to obey God and confront David.
- A repentant heart: David seeks God’s forgiveness and shows a genuinely repentant conscience.
Repentance doesn’t always mean the consequences of our sins don’t follow. Despite David’s pleading, his and Bathsheba’s son dies of sickness. In an ironic twist, God chooses Bathsheba to give birth to Solomon, who will be in the line of Jesus, whose blood might save David from his very sin, centuries later.
Stop sin early
There’s so much more to unpack about evil, sin, judgment, personal conviction, and forgiveness from these passages, but there’s one more observation that can serve all of us today. In 2 Samuel 11:1, David stays in his palace when other kings go to war. The author is subtly showing us that the first step toward sin was neglecting his God-given responsibilities.
Pray and ask God to protect you from starting down the path of sinful destruction. For “desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
What is the first step toward a deeper sin that you’ve taken recently? Confess it to God and repent before it gives birth to sin and death in your own life.
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