Diddy's downfall: Disgraced rapper raped 10-year-old boy, new lawsuit claims
The rap mogul is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York following his September arrest.
Bongani Bingwa is joined by Bongani Madondo, an author, theorist and contributing writer for The Sunday Times.
Aside from the crucial, forthcoming national elections, it is possibly the biggest story in the United States right now: the downfall of Sean Combs.
Thus far he has largely maintained his innocence in connection with disturbing allegations of kidnapping, assault and sexual abuse.
But it remains to be seen how he and his lawyers will respond to the latest allegations.
On Monday, a new lawsuit alleged that Combs drugged and raped a 10-year-old aspiring rapper in a New York City hotel in 2005 during an audition.The rap and entertainment mogul has, over time, come to be known by various monikers such as 'Puff Daddy', 'Puffy', 'P.Diddy', or 'Diddy'.
But, if prosecutors can provide convincing enough evidence and argument, 'Puffy' may soon have another sobriquet to add to the list: convicted felon.
Combs, who was arrested in September, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York.
He was denied bail after being accused of federal charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Mandondo says for a while Diddy's rags-to-riches story played right into the hands of his fans.
"In the last 25 years or so, what defines success in America is visibility and what P Diddy has done, is HYPER visibility... As a brilliant curator, he picked up the energy of what America needed."
- Bongani Madondo, Contributing writer - The Sunday Times
"He created it in his own image and that's why he called himself 'The King'. The King of New York, The King of Hip-Hop, The King of Everything."
- Bongani Madondo, Contributing writer - The Sunday Times
"The only difference between Trump and P Diddy is the skin they wear."
- Bongani Madondo, Contributing writer - The Sunday Times
Madondo says Combs was raised by a single mother, who wanted a better life for her children.
Janice Combs worked multiple jobs to provide for Combs and his sister; record execs have previously recounted his experiences of growing up in poverty.
On one occasion, he said, he woke up with roaches crawling over his face.
He decided then to pursue a better life for his family.
In 2022, Combs had an estimated net worth of $1 billion.
"These young men make money and they forget all the sacrifices of the civil rights [movement] immediately and P Diddy is a prime example of that."
Madondo claims the majority of Black Americans have shown where they stand on Diddy's disgraces, and it's not behind the 'All About the Benjamins' rapper.
"There's no coming back from this. I don't think Black America is going to miss him," says Madondo.
"He abused his power... Wrong is wrong, right is right. He's not going to fool a lot of folks now."
- Bongani Madondo, Contributing writer - The Sunday Times
The Combs trial is set for May 2025.
