Overview

• Sean “Diddy” Combs is on trial in New York City facing sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering conspiracy charges from alleged abuse between 2004 and 2024.
• During his May 30 monologue on Real Time, Maher argued that women in abusive relationships should immediately leave or be seen as complicit.
• He pointed to text messages from Cassie Ventura presented in court as evidence of “enthusiastic consent” to question the reliability of victim testimony.
• His comments prompted backlash on social media, with users highlighting the documented challenges and risks victims face when trying to exit abusive relationships.
• Observers view the debate as a test of how the post-#MeToo era balances holding powerful figures accountable against understanding the complexities of survivor agency.