It is time to recognize that the Diddy situation is real, with real victims. Through the river of baby oil and freak off jokes, the world seems to have forgotten what Diddy is actually accused of. The jokes are funny; tearing down a despicable clown like Diddy in such a ridiculous fashion brings a smile to all of our faces. However, at what point does the comedy go too far? I believe that the trolling is in good nature as long as it is directed at Diddy, and not the victims. Furthermore, it is important that people understand the truth and consequences of Diddy’s actions and recognize that the situation is criminal, not just a meme.
Over the last month, the internet has been swarmed with Diddy memes. Rapper and producer Sean Combs, AKA P. Diddy, has recently been charged in a three-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The indictment alleges that Combs threatened, coerced and abused women and others between 2008 and the present. Despite the overwhelming indications of misconduct by Combs, people across the internet have decided to spin his situation into comedy.
As we all know, the internet feeds on dramatic situations surrounding people in power, especially around crimes of sexual violence. Dark humor creators have always found content in making jokes about the likes of Jeffery Epstein or R. Kelly; the shock factor of making light of something so serious is sure to grab attention.
The social reaction to the Diddy situation, however, has surpassed content condemning Diddy. Jokes perpetuated by internet users across the world have shown pseudo-solidarity with the rapper in a clearly irreverent manner. The craze around Diddy can be attributed to a few main factors. Of course, the classic shock-value-dark-humor method is at play, but what makes Diddy unique is the ridiculous nature of his lifestyle and parties. Over a thousand bottles of baby oil were recovered when Diddy’s house was raided. This extravagant collection was supposedly used in “freak offs,” a sub-sect of his famous Hollywood parties that have become especially notorious and synonymous with his character. Finally, Diddy is notoriously well connected in Hollywood, most notably for his relationships with Justin Bieber and Usher, two stars who Diddy mentored early in their careers. Both Usher and Bieber were allegedly exposed to drugs and sex in their time with Diddy, which, considering they were both 15 at the time, is both illegal and inappropriate. Diddy symbolizes the depravity of Hollywood, and seeing people who are put on pedestals fall always calls for attention.
When approaching situations we tend to be unserious about, it is important to have all of the information, and to be conscious of the effects of our participation. Jokes about Diddy’s crimes can be a wide-reaching opportunity to bring awareness to the evils of Hollywood, or to recognize the danger that people in positions of power can pose. They could also be harmless mockings of baby-oil-filled basements. The line is crossed when the goal of the joke is to shift the public opinion of Diddy or shame the victims for their participation. Although we live in a free country with the autonomy to joke about whatever we please, it’s important to only voice what you deem appropriate. Each moral line of each joke is drawn by the individual, and while the line between comedy and morality is subjective, being mindful of your impact is objectively positive. By no means am I condemning Diddy jokes; I think that if done tastefully they can be hilarious. I simply urge everyone to be sufficiently educated about what they comment on and able to defend their perspective if questioned.
