At The Second Step, every day we support survivors who are silenced, dismissed, or retraumatized by a system that often fails to recognize their truth. So, when we witness high-profile cases like the recent acquittal of Sean “Diddy” Combs on federal sex trafficking charges, we feel the need to say what many survivors cannot: a courtroom outcome is not the same as justice. Acquittal is not innocence.
The legal system demands a high burden of proof, “beyond a reasonable doubt,” and rightfully so. But when it comes to cases of domestic and sexual violence, especially involving wealthy and powerful defendants, that burden is compounded by decades of cultural denial, survivor- shaming, and systemic inequity. A not-guilty verdict does not erase the harm done. It does not negate the courage it took to come forward. And it certainly does not mean the abuse never happened.
The Legal System Is Not Built for Survivors
Survivors often find that the justice system does not meet them with justice. Legal outcomes are influenced not just by facts, but by access to power, legal resources, and cultural narratives that shape how we interpret harm. In Diddy’s case, the charges were part of a complex legal battle involving multiple women, a federal investigation, and high-profile civil suits. Despite the mountain of allegations and evidence presented over the years, including a disturbing surveillance video leaked in May, Diddy was acquitted of the most serious federal criminal charges.
This doesn’t mean he is innocent. It means the prosecution did not meet the legal standard to secure a conviction. That distinction matters because when we confuse acquittal with exoneration, we delegitimize survivors’ voices and further entrench a culture where abuse goes unchecked.
In any legal process, it is critical for a survivor to have an attorney who can frame the facts, tell the story clearly and powerfully, and advocate with both legal skill and trauma-informed care. Survivors are not just navigating laws and rules, they are navigating fear, shame, and systems not built with them in mind. A strong legal advocate doesn’t just interpret the law; they help ensure the survivor’s truth is heard and understood.
At The Second Step, our attorneys do exactly that. We support survivors through restraining orders, custody battles, immigration issues, housing challenges, and more making sure that safety, dignity, and agency are at the center of every case. And yet, even with expert legal representation, the system often fails to deliver what survivors need most: validation, accountability, and a path to healing.
That’s why legal advocacy must be paired with cultural change. Survivors deserve a system and a society that believes them and backs them up.
The Courage to Speak Out and The Harm of Making Light of Abuse
Survivors of gender-based violence are often asked: Why didn’t you leave? Why didn’t you go to the police? But when they do come forward especially against someone powerful, they are threatened, discredited, and disbelieved.
Singer and model Cassie Ventura, who filed a civil lawsuit against Diddy in 2023 detailing years of alleged abuse, faced a relentless wave of online hate and public scrutiny. Others who came forward have faced similar retaliation. Yet they persisted. That courage deserves our respect, not our skepticism.
At The Second Step, we work with survivors whose experiences don’t make headlines but still may not be believed by family, who are threatened into silence, who stay because leaving feels more dangerous. We know that telling your story is often the most dangerous and vulnerable act a survivor can take. When we see survivors like Cassie and others speak out on such a public stage, despite everything they stand to lose, it’s a testament to the kind of strength that too often goes unrecognized in our culture.
In the aftermath of the verdict, some legal commentators and social media personalities rushed to downplay the allegations. Some described the trial as overblown, others mocked the survivors, and still others spun the verdict as total vindication.
This kind of minimization is profoundly harmful. It tells survivors watching that no matter what they endure, if their abuser is powerful enough, they will not be believed. It tells the public that abuse is subjective, debatable, or even comical.
When defense attorneys or commentators reduce allegations of sexual violence or coercive control to “relationship drama,” they reinforce deeply entrenched myths that keep survivors silent. At The Second Step, we know that abuse isn’t always loud. It isn’t always physical. It’s often invisible to outsiders, wrapped in manipulation, financial dependence, and fear.
And it is never a joke.
A Culture That Enables and Excuses
Legal accountability is just one form of justice. Cultural accountability, naming abuse, refusing to stay silent, holding institutions and individuals responsible, is something we all participate in. It’s how real change happens.
That means questioning how we support and protect people with power. It means reevaluating the way we consume celebrity culture. It means believing survivors even when it’s uncomfortable and especially when the system fails them.
It also means prevention. At The Second Step, we believe prevention is everyone’s responsibility not just something that happens in classrooms or youth programs, but in courtrooms, hospitals, faith communities, HR offices, and living rooms.
A critical part of this work is increasing awareness of coercive control, the subtle, chronic, and often invisible forms of abuse that trap survivors long before physical violence occurs. Coercive control includes isolation, surveillance, threats, financial control, and emotional manipulation.
These dynamics are often misunderstood, overlooked, or dismissed especially when the abuser is charming, powerful, or publicly successful.
Because domestic and sexual violence touch every corner of society, the response must be just as widespread. Increasing awareness across every sector, legal, medical, social services, media, and beyond, helps ensure that survivors don’t just find safety when they reach us, but find recognition, respect, and support everywhere they turn.
Prevention isn’t just about stopping abuse before it starts. It’s about creating a culture where coercive control is understood, where survivors are believed, and where abuse is no longer tolerated, excused, or ignored.
Cultural Accountability Is Everyone’s Work
Legal accountability is just one form of justice. Cultural accountability, naming abuse, refusing to stay silent, holding institutions and individuals responsible—is something we all participate in. It’s how real change happens.
That means questioning how we support and protect people with power. It means reevaluating the way we consume celebrity culture. It means believing survivors even when it’s uncomfortable—and especially when the system fails them.
The media has a responsibility to report facts without reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Trauma- informed reporting means resisting the urge to sensationalize, avoiding victim-blaming language, and providing context that helps the public understand the complexity of abuse.
Some outlets have done this well making clear distinctions between legal outcomes and survivor experiences. Others have resorted to headlines that imply Diddy was “cleared” or “proven innocent,” which is both inaccurate and damaging.
The public deserves better. Survivors deserve better. The way we talk about these cases shapes cultural understanding. It either affirms the reality of abuse, or it erases it.
It also means prevention. At The Second Step, we believe prevention is everyone’s responsibility and not just something that happens in classrooms or youth programs, but in courtrooms, hospitals, faith communities, HR offices, and living rooms.
Because domestic and sexual violence touch every corner of society, the response must be just as widespread. Increasing awareness across every sector (legal, medical, social services, media, and beyond) helps ensure that survivors don’t just find safety when they reach us, but find recognition, respect, and support everywhere they turn. Prevention isn’t just about stopping abuse before it starts. It’s about creating a culture where abuse is no longer tolerated, excused, or ignored.
We See You. We Believe You. We Are Here for You.
To every survivor who watched this trial and felt dismissed, retraumatized, or invisible: we see you. To every person who has experienced abuse behind closed doors and wondered if anyone would believe you: we believe you. To those still finding their voice, still building their path toward safety and healing: we are here for you.
This verdict may close one chapter, but it does not end the story. Survivors are still speaking. Advocates are still working. We are still fighting for a safe community where survivors can heal and thrive.