Sean “Diddy” Combs' music has surged on streaming services in the week following his arrest on federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Music billed under the various names used by the disgraced artist in past years — Diddy, Puff Daddy and P. Diddy — saw an average 18.3% increase in on-demand streams between Sept. 13 and 19 compared to the previous tracking week, according to industry data and analytics company Luminate.
Other troubled artists have also seen a surge in streaming numbers as controversies swirl around them. R. Kelly's streams doubled following the release of the Lifetime documentary series that accused the R&B singer of engaging in sexual misconduct with women and underage girls.
His album sales also increased by 517% after he pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021.
Combs, 54, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations agents at a New York City hotel on Monday, September 16. He had flown to New York anticipating his arrest following a grand jury indictment.
The following day, the artist was arraigned in federal court in Manhattan and charged with three counts of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.
In an unsealed indictment, federal prosecutors accused the music giant of abusing women and forcing them to participate in so-called “freak” performances to satisfy his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.
Federal authorities also allege the offender used guns, kidnapping and arson to control his victims.
The allegations mentioned in the indictment date back to 2008.
Combs denied the allegations. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said, “Mr. Combs is a warrior. He will fight this battle to the end.”
The Grammy winner was denied bail and remanded to federal custody at the Brooklyn Detention Center while he awaits trial. The Metropolitan Detention Center (also known as MDC) in Sunset Park has a notorious reputation for its alleged “barbaric” and “deplorable” conditions.
The facility has also housed other notable individuals accused of sex crimes, including R. Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Combs requested the judge to allow him to remain under house arrest at his Florida home while his trial is ongoing. He promised that no woman would visit him during this time. His request was denied. He has reportedly been placed on suicide watch.
The arrest of the one-time party kingpin came just months after raids were carried out on his properties in March as part of an ongoing investigation.
Combs has been hit with multiple lawsuits over the past few months accusing him of sexual misconduct and abuse. He has denied all allegations against him.
One of the first people to sue Combs was his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who filed a civil lawsuit in November alleging that Combs raped and abused her. Combs and Ventura settled out of court the next day.
Though he denied any wrongdoing at the time, when a 2016 surveillance video resurfaced showing Combs beating Ventura in an LA hotel corridor, the hip-hop star issued an apology in a since-deleted Instagram video.
