Celebrities Speak Out About Diddy Raid

Celebrities are weighing in after Sean "Diddy" Combs' properties were raided by federal authorities earlier this week amid sex-trafficking allegations.

Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security executed search wjarrants at properties belonging to Combs in Miami and the Holmby Hills suburb of Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.

In recent months, Combs has faced several legal battles, with lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking. The raids were reportedly tied to sex-trafficking allegations leveled by different plaintiffs, the Associated Press reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement that it had "executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners."

In response to the raids and subsequent media coverage, Combs' attorney, Aaron Dyer, told Newsweek in an email on Tuesday: "There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.

"This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence— leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits," Dyer added. "There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name."

As news of the raid became a talking point on social media, a number of celebrities shared their thoughts on the matter.

Rapper 50 Cent was among them, as he mocked Combs on social media. The pair have been feuding since 2007, after 50 Cent suggested, without proof, that Combs was involved in the killing of hip-hop legend The Notorious BIG.

"Now it's not Diddy do it, it's Diddy done," 50 Cent wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "They don't come like that unless they got a case."

The In Da Club hitmaker, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, illustrated his post with screenshots of the news coverage of the Los Angeles raid.

Later that day, 50 Cent took a swipe at Combs and his friend Jay-Z on Instagram. 50 Cent posted a photo of a milk carton with a snapshot of Jay-Z in place of a missing child, seemingly referencing the mogul's lack of public comment regarding the raids on Combs' properties.

"Anybody seen Jay LOL," 50 cent captioned the image, adding that Combs "said the [Jay-Z] ain't answering his phone. LOL."

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is a long-time friend of Combs, but has yet to publicly comment on the raids or the music mogul's recent legal troubles.

Taking to X, rival rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight suggested that there was a bigger issue at play regarding the raids.

"People the raids today wasn't for Diddy," Knight wrote on Monday. "It was to destroy the incriminating stuff on powerful men."

Knight, who appeared to welcome news of the raids, also shared a post regarding the since-debunked rumors that Combs had flown to the Caribbean island of Antigua amid the investigation.

Aubrey O'Day—who was a member of the group Danity Kane, formed by Combs on MTV reality show Making the Band—also spoke out on the raids.

"What you sow, you shall reap," she wrote in an Instagram Story post, similar to one she shared on X. "I pray this emboldens all of US victims to finally speak on what we have endured."

In another Instagram Story post, O'Day wrote: "Respectfully, I've been telling y'all this for 2 decades and did anyone listen? No."

Danity Kane was formed on Making the Band in 2005 and later signed with Combs' Bad Boy Records. As well as O'Day, original members included Aundria Fimbres, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett, Dawn Richard and Shannon Bex.

O'Day and Woodgett were removed from the lineup in 2008 amid tensions between the band members and Combs. While Danity Kane disbanded the following year, they have since reunited on a number of occasions without any involvement from Combs.

In recent months, music producer Combs has faced several legal battles, with lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking.

Last month, a music producer filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of coercing him to solicit prostitutes and then pressure him to have sex with them. The producer, Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, alleges in the lawsuit that he was sexually harassed, drugged and threatened by Combs for more than a year. Jones produced several tracks on Combs' The Love Album: Off the Grid and is seeking $30 million in damages.

Combs' attorney Shawn Holley disputed the allegations, previously saying: "We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies."

In a separate case, Combs' ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, sued him in November, alleging years of sexual abuse. The lawsuit, which accused Combs of forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed, was settled the day after it was filed.

Combs was hit with another lawsuit in December over allegations he trafficked and sexually abused a woman identified as Jane Doe. The suit accuses Combs of "gang rape" and sex trafficking.

Combs has long denied the allegations. He has a post pinned to the top of his account on X, in response to the accusations that he raped and trafficked several women.

"Enough is Enough," Combs wrote in a statement posted to X in December. "For the last couple weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy.

"Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth."

Combs' ex Cassie, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura, shared a statement through her attorney Douglas Wigdor following news of Monday's raids.

"Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct," read the statement.