50 Cent, Aubrey O’Day and Rosie O’Donnell all reacted within minutes after a jury found Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty on two out of five counts in his high-profile sex-trafficking trial.
The music mogul was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution; however, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
“Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man ! [Clapping emojis] beat the Rico, he the Gay John Gotti,” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, was referencing the infamous Mafia boss who was nicknamed “The Teflon Don” due to prosecutors’ failures to get any charges to stick.
Aubrey O’Day, the singer who was once a member of Combs’s girl group Danity Kane and has since become an outspoken critic of her former mentor, posteda video on Instagram showing the verdict come in live on CNN.
“Oh my god. Not guilty on Cassie, not guilty on RICO,” said O’Day after the verdict on the first two counts was announced. “No way Jane is going to be guilty. Oh, this makes me physically ill. Cassie probably feels so horrible. I'm gonna vomit.”
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell also weighed in on the verdicts, writing on social media: “I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion- wow - they just think women stay because what? money - fame - ‘they love the abuse’ - what a fucking joke - this decision got me angry.”
Kesha also reacted to the news by sending support to Combs’s former partner Cassie Ventura. The singer tweeted: “Cassie, I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.”
The 38-year-old star last year re-recorded her breakout hit “Tik Tok” to amend a reference to Combs. The original 2009 track had the opening lyric “Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy”, while the new version has the alternative line, “feeling like f*** P Diddy”.
50 Cent and Diddy have had beef since long before the latter was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering.
In their early days in the music industry, the two men were never close but did collaborate on occasional projects.
However, their relationship soured due to disputes over artist contracts and rival vodka brands.
In recent months, Jackson, 49, who is also known as “Fiddy,” has repeatedly mocked Combs over the shocking revelations that have emerged during the latter’s ongoing trial.
Last month, Jackson claimed that he would personally intervene with Donald Trump to stop him from pardoning Combs.
After Trump hinted a pardon could be on the table, Jackson vowed to make the president “aware” of his thoughts about the music mogul.
Alongside a clip of the president saying he’d consider pardoning Diddy, he wrote on Instagram: “He said some really bad things about Trump. it’s not ok. Im gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
The rapper doubled down on his position the next day, adding: “Donald doesn’t take well to disrespect, and doesn’t forget who chooses to go against him. while working tirelessly to make America great again there is no room for distraction.”
