When college students scroll through their phones, whether it’s TikTok or Instagram, or any new trendy social media app, they see memes about Diddy’s current scandal and court appearances. But behind all these jokes lies serious trouble involving prostitution and sex trafficking. 

Sean “Diddy” Combs has returned to court, trying to convince the judge to drop any prostitution-related convictions he has received. His team is arguing that the law is only applied to “pimps” and not someone who pays for the men or women. Diddy has been taking prostitutes from around the nation and bringing them together for his own enjoyment. Prosecutors are arguing that Combs orchestrated these while allowing violence against the victims. 

On college campuses, people might scroll past the headlines and laugh at the once-famed Combs, but there is a dangerous message in that humor. At times, celebrities or wealthy individuals get the law bent to their advantage. Students can see how often fame and money get people access to better things and the ability to do what they want. When people laugh at the jokes, there is an example of how there is inequality in the law. A quote from UW-Whitewater student Morgan Shores states, “This is turning sexual assault and rape into a comedic thing, which I have seen firsthand on this campus. So being a woman now in a college town where sexual assault is comedic is a very scary experience.” Students see that it is being seen as a joke. There are trending jokes about Combs’ “First Amendment defense” or the “he filmed it so it was an art”. This humor is obscuring the seriousness of this case. 

Another quote from UW-Whitewater student Mya Daniels states, “He is literally being convicted of sexually exploiting women. Knowing women are supporting this man who does not deserve any empathy makes me sick.” This could also be a debate in the classroom for criminology students or even gender studies. With topics such as prostitution or sex trafficking, while brings in very real-world examples. But also about hybistophilla or when someone is attracted to someone who commits or has committed heinous crimes. 

Combs’ case shows how fame can bend justice and how joking about serious crimes normalizes harm. For students, it’s a reminder to look at the bigger picture. 

References

Katersky, A., & Simpson, T. (2025, September 25th). Judge weighing whether to overturn Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ prostitution-related convictions. https://abcnews.go.com/US/sean-diddy-combs-returns-court-argue-prostitution-related/story?id=125905286