Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
I want to start this off by providing a content trigger warning: This column discusses sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse and everything that goes along with those things. If these topics are triggering for you or otherwise make you uncomfortable, I recommend you do not read it.
I was in the middle of writing this piece when news broke of a fourth lawsuit being filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs; this one, which also alleges sexual assault, accuses one of the most powerful men in hip-hop of sex trafficking and gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in 2003.
The plaintiff, who is remaining anonymous at this time, says that Combs and his associates plied her with drugs and alcohol before sexually assaulting her.
She included photos of herself in Diddy’s studio and with Diddy himself, which she says were taken the day she was assaulted.
People are still going to a) accuse her of being on a money grab and b) ask why she waited all these years to say something.
Never mind that Sean “Puffy” “Puff Daddy” “P Diddy” “Diddy” Combs is one of the most powerful men in hip-hop.
Never mind that she was a 17-year-old girl who was likely scared, afraid, and possibly ashamed in the aftermath of what happened.
People never extend even the tiniest bit of grace to victims who, for whatever reason, don’t immediately go running into the middle of the street to yell and scream about what just happened to them.
There’s an entire ongoing list of all the reasons Jane Doe didn’t say anything publicly.
There is an ongoing list of reasons why some victims of sexual assault never come forward with their story.
Sometimes you aren’t even sure it was sexual assault because you don’t have a full understanding of what exactly constitutes sexual assault.
I was once so…
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