The spotlight in the ongoing legal battle involving music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to intensify, with much of the public conversation centered around his alleged abusive relationship with singer Cassie Ventura. Now, Bill Maher has entered the chat and not without controversy.
During the May 30 episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the veteran commentator weighed in on Diddy’s legal troubles, which include accusations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and other serious federal charges. But it was Maher’s take on Cassie that sparked immediate backlash.
Referencing Cassie’s previously reported text messages to Diddy, some of which allegedly depict consent to sexual activity, Maher suggested that those messages could be key to a potential acquittal for Combs.
“If Diddy walks free,” Maher said, “it will be because his lawyers can point to an endless stream of texts from Cassie expressing… enthusiastic consent to their sex life.” He added, “If you’re MeToo-ing someone, it doesn’t help your case if you texted him, ‘Me too.’”
Maher didn’t stop there. In an attempt to frame a broader commentary on abuse, consent, and accountability, the host stated, “Diddy is a bad dude. Things have changed enough so that moving forward, the rule should be if you’re being abused, you’ve got to leave right away. Don’t tell me about a contemporaneous account you told two friends ten years ago. Tell the police. Don’t wait a decade. Don’t journal about it. Don’t turn it into a one-woman show. And most importantly, don’t keep f***ing him.”
He continued, claiming that the entertainment industry must also examine the lengths people are willing to go for success. “We also have to have an honest conversation about what people are willing to do for stardom,” Maher said. “If you want a number-one record on the chart so bad you’ll take a number one in the face, some of that is on you.”
Critics immediately condemned Maher’s remarks as tone-deaf and victim-blaming, especially in the context of longstanding power imbalances in the music industry. Many social media users and advocates pointed out that consent given under manipulation, coercion, or fear doesn’t absolve alleged abusers of accountability, particularly when a significant power dynamic is at play.
Meanwhile, the Diddy case continues to unfold in court, with former employees, including the anonymous “Mia,” offering damaging testimony. Discussions around whether to allow expert witness testimony on trauma and abuse remain ongoing, potentially adding more nuance to the narrative as the court weighs evidence on both sides.
As the high-profile trial plays out, one thing remains clear: the discourse surrounding it, both in and outside the courtroom, continues to spark heated public debate.