Sexual assault survivors say Sean 'Diddy' Combs verdict a 'step back' for #MeToo movement
“It is heartbreaking,” said Kaja Sokola, a former model from Poland who was one of three women who testified in Harvey Weinstein’s May retrial. Sean "Diddy" Combs in court on June 26. Jane Rosenberg / Reuters July 4, 2025, 12:30 PM GMT+3 By Pilar Melendez and Saba Hamedy Moments after Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges on Wednesday , a celebration erupted outside the Manhattan federal courthouse. Supporters and influencers sported homemade merch, sprayed baby oil on each other and cheered “Free Puff!” But for some sexual assault survivors and advocates, the verdict delivered what they described as a devastating “step back” for the #MeToo movement, which gained prominence in 2017 after producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of assault. The former Hollywood mogul was among a handful of powerful men who were convicted as part of a broader cultural reckoning against sexual harassment and assault. “It is heartbreaking,” K...