In the aftermath of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial, the 55-year-old rapper remains behind bars as he awaits his sentencing. Combs received a mixed verdict in his trial, which could mean he won’t serve as much jail time as previously predicted. All the while, there remains a question of what may lie ahead for Diddy as a public figure and whether his image can recover from his wave of legal woes. Now, a number of public relations experts are weighing in on whether it’s possible for the embattled mogul to salvage his reputation at this point.
Diddy was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he was not found guilty on counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking. The racketeering (also known as RICO) charge was the most severe offense that the Sean John figurehead was facing amid the trial. Although the rapper was acquitted on that front, Reputation Management Consultants CEO Eric Schiffer told Business Insider that Diddy’s not out of the woods:
Racketeering dodge or not, the pimp transport convictions lock him in society's septic tank.
Eric Schiffer isn’t the only PR expert who’s of the belief that it’ll be difficult for Sean Combs to work his way into the public’s good graces after his trial. William DiAntonio – the CEO of Reputation911 – also didn’t seem too bullish on the matter when speaking with BI. In DiAntonio’s estimation, Combs may be somewhat off the hook from a legal standpoint, but that doesn’t mean the public at large is necessarily going to excuse him:
Rehabbing his image will be an uphill battle. The court of public opinion often operates differently than a court of law, and the details that emerged during the trial, even those not leading to convictions, can be incredibly damaging.
During the trial, the prosecution called forward a number of witnesses who provided testimony about alleged acts committed by Diddy. The “Bad Boy for Life” performer’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, testified and shared details about allegedly being forced to participate in Freak Off parties. A friend of Ventura’s also claimed that he dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony. Rapper Kid Cudi also shared details about an alleged home invasion and arson situation that was purportedly orchestrated by Diddy.
Those claims aside, another element that could stand in the way of Sean Combs improving his image is the 2016 hotel surveillance footage, which shows him assaulting Cassie. While Combs eventually apologized after that video was released, Evan Nierman of crisis-PR firm Red Banyan says “video is going to be hard to forget.” To Nierman, the clip is “seared into the consciousness of the public.”
Much has also been said about how celebrities – specifically those acquainted with Diddy – have been handling his ongoing legal situation. Many of his famous friends have distanced themselves from him over the last year or so. However, a few people have been in Diddy’s corner, including Ray J, who believed there was “nothing” truly incriminating to be found in the case. Kanye West, who spoke to Diddy by phone months ago, has also been supporting the Bad Boy Records founder – and they may be collaborating soon, per reports.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether Sean Combs will be able to rehabilitate his image in some way. A lot of that may also hinge upon his sentencing, which is set to take place on October 3.
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