FEATURE:
For Cassie
IN THIS PHOTO: Cassandra Fine (Cassie Ventura)/PHOTO CREDIT: Jorden Keith Sorensen
Why the Music Industry Needs a #MeToo Revolution
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SOME incredibly inspiring…
IN THIS IMAGE: A sketch of Sean Combs looking at jurors at the start of jury selection in Manhattan federal court on Monday, 5h May in New York/IMAGE CREDIT: Elizabeth Williams/AP
and amazing women like Jess Davies and Dr. Charlotte Proudman have reacted to the recent verdict involving Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. In short, it is a travesty of justice! The circus and freak show that was his trial culminated in Combs being found “guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, relieving him of the three more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking”. This is how The Independent reported the news. The audacity of the abuser to pray – why is it always abusive and vile men who us pray and turn to religion when they have been accused or rape and abuse?! (see also Russell Brand) – in the court and this insane jury to clear him of some serious charges revealed a few thing. For a start, it is clear that men in power in America – and around the world – can evade justice and bypass the most severe punishment is they are famous and powerful. This is what we are being shown. The world is in a desperate state at the moment. The U.S. is being led by a dictator and sex offender. Donald Trump is one of the most hideous and dangerous people ever to lead a country. The fact the U.S. voted him in is one of the most insane and vile decisions in political history. They are living with it and I hope that they learn from their stupidity and realise how they have helped to create this damage and disease. Trump is leading a country where abortion is illegal.
PHOTO CREDIT: Lara Jameson/Pexels
Stripping women’s body rights and autonomy. The U.K. is being led by Sir Keir Starmer. We have passed laws where women are legally defined by sex and not gender. This discriminated against trans women and is a human rights travesty. We have also made it illegal for people to support Palestine Action. People who support them can receive up to fourteen years in prison. We are living in a dictatorship where our government are supporting and funding Israel. A nation committing a genocide. Our Prime Minister is a war criminal who has no humanity and is a disgusting and heartless excuse for a human. Israel is committing genocide and Russia is destroying Ukraine. Men in power are destroying the world. The fact is that, when it comes to women’s rights and safety around the world, those in power do not care. The case of Diddy shows that America hates women. Celebrities can abuse and rape women and engage in trafficking and get away with it. If they are famous and rich then the law does not apply to them. The jury for the Diddy trial consisted of eight men and four women. You feel the glee from them as they got him off of some heinous charges. Corrupt and senseless, just think of a brave woman like Cassie Ventura – a woman Diddy beat, abused and raped – and what she felt when the verdict was read. Almost getting away with everything, the case of Diddy is nothing new. Powerful men in society can avoid prosecution and jail because of their gender and wealth! Music is an industry that sees a score of men accused of rape, sexual abuse - and so many other crimes.
IN THIS PHOTO: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs with Cassie Ventura in 2016/PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images
So few are put in prison or have to face responsibility. You know that Diddy is someone who will not face any prison time and will probably return to a successful career. Play arenas and release new music. A score of sick and deluded fans heralding his brilliance and lining his wallet. Essentially funding an abuser. It is not a case of it being a complicated case that is objective and we have no concrete evidence. We have video of Diddy attacking Cassie Ventura! We know he is guilty of these crimes, and yet, he has managed to wriggle out of them because of his stature. And, let’s face it, the fact he is a man. If it were a woman in the court, she would be thrown in prison and lose her career! America hates women. America will support wealthy and powerful men, regardless of what they do. There should be a revolution on the streets! There isn’t. Diddy should not be allowed to release music or make any money ever again. He will. Not to be a bad feminist, but I am so sick of men. Everything we are seeing in Palestine is because of men. All the violence and genocide. The leaders enabling it. The leaders here and in the U.S. All the acts of violence and abuse around the world because of men! Violence and sexual abuse is a male issue. They are responsible for the vast majority of it. Take them away and we would have world peace and women would feel safe. Right now, we are in one of the bleakest places we have ever been in.
When it comes to women and their rights and safety, your heart breaks for them! Diddy was acquitted of sex trafficking and racqueting. People asking why women do not come forward. This is why! It is not only Cassie Ventura who was denied justice. ‘Jane’ and ‘Mia’ – who remained anonymous but added to the evidence and testimony of Cassie Ventura – are women who were almost mocked. Diddy’s supporters oiling themselves up and celebrating the verdict. I saw someone on Twitter ask why juries in cases like this are not made up of experts in sexual violence and abuse. People qualified to assess the evidence and make an informed judgment. Inviting random people to the jury who have no idea about any of this will see men acquitted. It is an insult to women! Going forward, how many men in the music industry will avoid being brought to trial because women know they will not get justice?! This is what Dr. Charlotte Proudman recently tweeted: “Sean “Diddy” Combs didn’t testify. His lawyers called no witnesses, his case rested in just 30 minutes. Meanwhile, 30 people testified against him. Employees. Ex-partners. Voice notes. CCTV of him beating Cassie. And still no justice. Fame protects power. Power protects men”. It is not only the music industry where men are protected. However, as I have noted before, they (the industry) have not had this revolution. I feel society and culture is on the brink of an explosion. The dictatorship in this country that supports a genocidal nation and wants to imprison anyone who stands against such a thing.
People will take to the streets in their millions soon. In the music world, how long can we keep seeing abusers and the most despicable human beings not only swerve justice and any repercussions but return to their careers?! Diddy is one example; Chris Brown another. Although R. Kelly is in prison, you feel he will get out sooner than expected and he has not really been handed as severe a punishment as he should have been (in 2021, he was found guilty of exploiting his superstar status to run a scheme to sexually abuse women and children over two decades). Where do women go from here?! We have reached a point where there needs to be insurrection in music. Women’s rights and equality have not been addressed or improved in decades. Even though they rule the industry, they have very little power and rights. From someone as minor as headline slots on major stages to being believed when it comes to allegations of rape and sexual crimes, how far have we moved in recent years?! For Cassie Ventura and every woman who has bravely testified and being denied respect, dignity and justice, I hope that we see the day (soon!) when things change. For the countless women who have not come forward because they will not be believed. Even if a Hollywood-style #MeToo movement might not work in music or we have passed that stage, there does need to be an equivalent. We cannot stand by to see men like Diddy receive a comparative slap on the wrist for what amounts to the worst kinds of abuse and exploitation against women. It is clear America hates women and will protect and boost wealthy men. Things are not much better here. Misogyny that is rife throughout society is fetid and rampant in music. I have been reading posts from women like Jess Davies, Dr. Charlotte Proudman and scores of others highlighting the injustice and cold fact that women cannot get justice. They will not be believed and, worst than that, they can face the most harrowing abuse and damaging torment and live with that for the rest of their lives whilst their abusers not only are found innocent, but they can also still make money and have a career! Right now, the music industry needs to answer questions and change things. Thinking about Cassie Ventura and the women who have testified against Diddy, they have been treated appallingly. America and the world. It is evident that they do not care about women. Sadly and tragically, we have to ask this: When it comes to women’s rights and their safety…
WILL things ever change?!