For decades, Sean “Diddy” Combs cultivated the persona of a wealthy Black music mogul who shattered business barriers, hosted extravagant parties, and crafted iconic television moments. However, prosecutors allege that beneath this glamorous facade lies a darker reality, marked by accusations of violence, sex trafficking, and egregious abuses of power.

Throughout his career, Sean “Diddy” Combs has dominated the realms of music, television, and fashion, amassing a fortune estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Publicly, he was seen as a savvy music producer, generating hip-hop hits under his Bad Boy Records label, which he founded in 1993, solidifying his status as a cultural magnate. Combs found himself at the center of one of rap’s most infamous and tragic feuds between the East and West coasts, culminating in the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. He adeptly capitalized on hip-hop’s transition into mainstream culture at the turn of the millennium, with tracks like “All About the Benjamins” even being parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic. His high-profile romance with Jennifer Lopez, highlighted by her iconic Versace gown at the 2000 Grammy Awards, added to his larger-than-life persona. To the world, Combs was the fun-loving producer who danced in music videos and the tough business mogul nurturing emerging talent.

However, prosecutors allege in an indictment unsealed Tuesday that behind closed doors, Combs, now 54, and his associates wielded his “power and prestige” to orchestrate sexual, emotional, and physical abuse against those around him. While his explosive temper was an open secret, and rumors about his personal life have long circulated, experts argue that his considerable influence has shielded him from accountability for years of alleged illegal activities.

Combs was arrested Monday and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. These charges followed months of lawsuits and multiple allegations of sexual assault, gender violence, misconduct, and other serious illegal activities spanning several years. He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, with a judge denying him bail after U.S. Attorney Damian Williams argued that Combs poses a flight risk and a danger to the community. He is currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York and is on “procedural” suicide watch, a standard practice for high-profile detainees.

“We’ve seen this pattern before — someone in a position of power and influence chooses to exploit others for their own gain, using fear, manipulation, and violence to maintain control over his victims,” stated Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center.

The charges relate to Combs’ alleged orchestration of hours- and days-long sexual performances known as “freak offs,” which reportedly included coerced sex acts that he is accused of arranging and recording. The indictment asserts that Combs sought “to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”