Why P. Diddy's Famous Friends Probably Stayed Quiet After His Arrest, PR Expert Says

For nearly a year, Sean “P. Diddy Combs has faced a series of legal problems, culminating in his arrest in Manhattan earlier this month. The 54-year-old is currently incarcerated at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center and faces numerous charges outlined in a 14-page indictment. From Combs was taken into custodyvery few of the celebrities he has befriended over the years have commented on his situation. Now a PR expert explains why that was the case.

The “Come to Me” singer has made many notable acquaintances over the years, ranging from actors to singers to other business moguls. It’s for this reason that some members of the general public have chastised Diddy’s legions of famous friends for not addressing his legal issues lately. However, Evan Nierman, CEO of crisis PR firm Red Banyan, suggested that this shouldn’t be all that surprising. As Nierman explained, this is a strategic decision on the part of the stars, and it all comes down to one key element: “distance”:

The name of the game right now is distance, and the more distance they can provide between them or the more distance they can create between themselves and Diddy, the better for them. There is nothing to be gained by engaging in the conversation surrounding his arrest or the allegations. For all those people who knew him over the years and were associated with him or were photographed with him, they should avoid this topic as much as possible and try to stay out of the public eye on anything that concerns Sean Combs. .

Based on the explanation given by Evan Nierman at Business Insiderit’s best that all stars connected to Puff Daddy keep their heads down during this entire period. The PR industry veteran also said that if a star speaks out, it could have unintended side effects on them:

It is in their interest not to intervene and not to be noticed if they want to avoid being unfairly tarnished by this situation.

Among the charges Sean Combs currently faces are sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering. The legal documents also contained details of Combs’ alleged “Freak Offs,” during which sexual acts were allegedly committed and recorded. Since news of these events came to light, old clips and quotes from some of Combs’ associates have surfaced in which they commented on the parties.

Before Diddy was incarcerated but faced lawsuits and allegations, several notable artists actually spoke out on the issue. One of these people was Slim Thug, who commented after 2016 footage of Diddy assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel went viral. Thug said he would “take that L” after initially supporting his fellow rapper amid accusations. Another the reaction came from Suge Knightwho infamously rivaled founder Sean John. Reacting to the situation of his former rival, he described this situation as “bad day for culture.”

Most recently, fellow performer and longtime friend Sean Combs Ray J spoke out the day after his arrest. The artist – whose real name is William Ray Norwood Jr. – said during a recent talk show appearance that few people have spoken out because the industry is still “in shock” and trying to address the issue. He also said that in this day and age, it is “important to learn a lesson now and ensure that the next generation understands how to evolve differently with transparency and integrity.”

P. Diddy is currently awaiting trial, and in the meantime his lawyer has continued to share statements about his various legal troubles. (He recently commented on these different bottles of lube seized from Diddy’s house during a raid.) It is probably a given that the lawyer will continue to speak out. But if Evan Nierman’s comments ring true, we probably shouldn’t expect celebrities to get involved.