Bill Maher Criticizes Diddy, Cassie Amid Sex Trafficking Trial

Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher has sparked controversy during Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial by criticizing both the rapper and one of his accusers, Cassie Ventura. While Maher condemned Diddy as a "bad dude" deserving of incarceration for the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, he also blamed Cassie for remaining in the alleged abusive relationship and demonstrated this by highlighting her texts expressing enthusiasm for their sexual encounters. Maher argued that victims should leave abusive situations immediately and criticized the delay in reporting, suggesting that Cassie's continued involvement with Diddy undermines her allegations. He framed this stance as a new rule in the #MeToo era, emphasizing personal agency and cautioning against what he views as victim infantilization. Maher's remarks, which included sarcastic and victim-blaming elements, have drawn backlash for appearing to excuse or minimize the complexities of abuse dynamics. Despite acknowledging the difficulty of leaving abusive relationships, Maher maintained that victims bear responsibility for taking action promptly to seek justice.