Last week, music industry figure Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on serious charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and facilitating prostitution, creating a stir in the music world. However, some individuals were not at all shocked.

For years now, there have been whispers regarding Diddy’s alleged misconduct, with several celebrities making remarks about him in past interviews. The issue? Very few people took them seriously.

In a 2004 feature on Kimora Lee Simmons, she recounted an instance where Combs threatened her while she was expecting a child. In 2022, Aubrey O’Day, a former member of Danity Kane, shared on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that her exit from the group in 2008 was due to her refusal to comply with Combs’ non-musical demands. Likewise, singer Jaguar Wright has consistently accused Combs of serious wrongdoing in multiple interviews, claiming that she was labeled a “liar” and accused of being envious of his achievements.

It wasn’t until a video surfaced showing Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura that people began to heed their warnings. So, what changed?

Experts suggest that biases based on gender and race, along with cognitive biases like the “halo effect,” contribute to the disbelief surrounding sexual assault claims, leaving survivors to endure shame and skepticism.

The ‘halo effect’ shields celebrities from scrutiny

According to Elizabeth L. Jeglic, a clinical psychologist and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a cognitive bias known as the “halo effect” can safeguard the reputation of a celebrity accused of sexual abuse.

When individuals have a favorable view of a celebrity like Combs, who has won multiple Grammy Awards, mingled with notable figures such as Oprah and Obama, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and holds an honorary doctorate from Howard University, Jeglic observes that people often discount negative information that contradicts their existing positive image of him, particularly when the accuser is someone of lesser status.

This may have been evident back in 1999, when Combs was at a nightclub with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, resulting in a gunfight after a dispute involving rapper Moses “Shyne” Barrow, injuring three individuals. Following a police pursuit, Combs, Lopez, Jones, and Barrow were briefly detained. In the subsequent jury trial, only Barrow was convicted of first-degree assault for wounding two bystanders, one of whom, Natania Reuben, has consistently claimed Diddy was involved in the shooting.

Often, only undeniable evidence prompts a shift in public opinion about a celebrity, as seen with the footage of Combs assaulting Ventura.

“That has people reconsidering their views, questioning, ‘Can he really behave like this?’” Jeglic explains.

Black women survivors encounter significant challenges

Many of the women accusing Combs of misconduct are Black, which could influence the skepticism directed toward them. Chloe Grace Hart, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, points out that this stems from historical precedents where the legal system minimized Black women’s experiences with sexual violence in the U.S.

“In several southern states, only white women could legally be acknowledged as victims of rape,” Hart states. “While this is no longer true, the remnants of that mindset linger, often on an unconscious level.”

In a recent study, Hart found that Americans were less likely to believe a Black woman recounting a sexual harassment incident than they were to believe a white woman sharing a similar story.

“This indicates that in terms of sexual violence, Black women survivors face an additional barrier in being believed,” she explains.

Moreover, Black and Latina women often face oversexualization, which impacts perceptions surrounding abuse allegations as noted by clinical psychologist and human behavior expert Reneé Carr.

“When an individual claims they were sexually assaulted or abused, there may be a perception that they consented, largely due to our subconscious stereotype of them as being inherently sexual,” she states.

‘Men continue to hold a significant amount of power,’ yet unity brings strength

“We predominantly exist in a patriarchal society where men maintain a significant amount of control,” Jeglic asserts. “Thus, when women come forward with their claims, it’s often simpler to demonize them and portray them as irrational or unstable.”

Furthermore, Black women frequently face stereotypes portraying them as “angry,” which complicates their ability to be heard and believed regarding allegations.

Bias can make it even more difficult for individuals to address their experiences, leading to further neglect and gaslighting.

Nonetheless, when several women share their stories of abuse, it becomes easier for society to accept and acknowledge their accounts. There may come a time when women are taken seriously without needing extensive proof, but we are not yet there.

“We have witnessed progress with the #MeToo movement,” Jelgic notes. “However, we still have a considerable journey ahead.”