Tezlyn Figaro, Jade Harriell and Michele Watley discuss the Sean 'Diddy' Combs apology and aftermath. Tezlyn also breaks down her connection to Revolt television which was founded by Sean 'Diddy' Combs'
Ask your question real. Let's just keep it real. Straight Shoye with No Chasing, I'm gonna get a little bit rough. I'm here for it. Those who really believe in the American process, all of us Straight Shot No Chase with your Girl Testim figure Out on the Black Effect podcasting networking. What's having everybody who's just teslim figure out with Straight Shot No Chaser. Make sure you subscribe. Wherever you get your podcasts, you can put in Teslim figure on Straight Shot No Chase with Teestim figure On on Spotify, Apple and the iHeartRadio app. It has seemed like, well, we just talked last week, but it's so much has happened in the last few days. It almost feels like it's been weak since I have connected to you guys, since I've had a chance to connect to my girls, to really have this very very important conversation, because so much again has transferred. I've even kind of lost track, to be honest with you, seems like the last twenty four to forty eight seventy two hours has just been a whirlwind. I mean literally and figuratively, so much has changed, you know, in the Sean Combs a case, you know, him as Diddy Brother Love Puff, whatever era, you were connected to this man or know him from, and so I want to get straight to it and get straight to the conversation, you know, for transparency, and we'll talk about that for a little bit, a little bit as we get into the conversation. But those who don't know, I hope that you do. I have a show or had a show what Revolt black News. Revolt was owned by Puff. It was his brain child, if you will. It was really important to him to start a black owned network. He pushed and insisted that there be a news component. Although it was never as popular as entertainment, probably never will, but it was something that he really wanted to make sure that Revote Black News was a part of the network because he just believed and how important it was to have our voice at the table. I do know Huf personally. I have not known him for a long time, but did become a part of his I won't say inner circle, but one of the people at the table in twenty twenty since and so about four years of when he was making decisions on politics and how to best utilize his voice and how can he help and how can he be helpful to the overall mission of empowering black people. And so he's been instrumental on my life in that way. And we'll talk about it when we get to the revolte side of it, but I did want to go ahead and put that on the table. So for those who are listening, if you want my thoughts, know that it's coming from a both a communit vdication side, crisis Colm side, a fan of this man or the last growing up on his music, and also who has been a business partner of sorts. So if you want to hear my thoughts on that, stick around. We'll be talking about that as we get the show started. So with that said, guys, unless you've been under rock did he was accused by his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura of a arry and we talked about this on the show earlier for the second time. We won't run through every single thing, but for those who don't know, she basically accused him of heinous abuse domestic violence for over through their tenure relationship. Folks, when it came out, she did, you know, ask for a settlement. That civil lawsuit was settled within twenty four hours. Folks said that it was just a money grab. People said that, no, he's settled because he's guilty. There was a lot of conversation online about you know, she just said it for a money grab. Also, Puff even said himself, you know that enough is enough that thing and I'm paraphrasing, and we'll get to we'll read all of that when Jade gets to that in a moment for paraphrasing where he said enough is enough. Lies are being told on me. I did not do any of the things that were said about me. He also even went further to say, you know, time will tell, the truth will come out in time, and you know, really, you know, made a couple of statements about how this was just not him and posting, you know, videos about victory and all of these different things for those who were supporting him to believe that he possibly did not do what he unless you do. I always found it very interesting though, that nobody other than Stevie certainly no women in his life, not a baby mama's obviously me says one for those who don't those first baby mother obviously Camport has passed away. But none of his female friends, you know this, Marria Blige, any of the people. It's all, like nobody ever stood in his defense. From what I'm hearing, this was also something that was well known for those who knew that side of him, who knew his relationship, Howie Handler's relationship, And that's why you didn't see anybody saying anything at all. So then the video comes out. What day did come at, guys? Was a Saturday or Friday?
The video of the assault came out on Friday, and Puffy's apology statement came out on Sunday.
Okay, thank you so much, guys. For those who are listening, let me introduce my co hosts today. My two co hosts today, Jade Andrell you've been hearing her weekly with me, and also Michelle Wattley. They're going to help us unpack this. So the apology, So let's talk about the video, guys, let's put that on the tape. What are your thoughts? You saw the video. You saw Puff running up the hallway, grabbing her by her hair, pushing her down to the floor, kicking her once she was on the floor, throwing vases at her. Bottom line, this one was trying to escape literally in her shoes. I mean it was literally somebody contina shit like straight up like leaving the hotel when obviously he was in the shower or trying to get away, and the man came and chased her down. Yeah, it was like out of something out of a horror movie.
I could feel the anxiousness and fear and watching it and what it must have been like for Kathy to pack only one bag.
If you know that she only had one bag. I don't even think she had shoes on in the video. I had to go back and look, but she was very clear. Yeah, she was barefore she had these socks.
On, you know, this hoodie and probably whatever she could pack in that bag trying to get away and this man ran out in a towel in the middle of a high end luxury hotel, as a man who has a statue that he had at the time, to chase her down and bring her back into the hotel room. And so when I see people question, well, why don't women just leave? To me, this is a perfect example of why they don't leave. There's more than enough evidence and information and data researcher shows the most vomberall time for a woman who is in a domestic for anyone in a domestic violent situation, is when they choose to leave. That is when you're more likely to be killed or experienced significant harm. And it's because it is essentially the moment where an abuser realizes that it's over and that everything could possibly be exposed and the consequences that come with you leaving and that they might lose you. And to me, this video was a prime example of that. What we witness is what happens when you try to leave, that a man like you know, p Ditty will run out of that room in a baptible to chase you down and drag you back into that room should you decide to leave. It was just horror. It was horrifying to watch. It was horrifying to watch. Yeah, Jay, what did you think?
It was just terrible.
I felt so bad for her because she looks so helpless and she just was not fighting this man back. So it seemed like, you know, her defense was to just sort of take the abuse and that you know, it didn't seem like the first time that she had been in that type of situation. She was definitely trying to get out, to Michelle's point, and after he literally put hands and feet on her, he then grabbed her things and threw her things and her back into the hotel room. So it was just absolutely disgusting. It just shows how bold he was. Clearly, when you're in a hotel, especially higher end hotels, you know that there's surveillance everywhere, and he just really didn't give a damn. And I know that he is upset that he got caught. In her lawsuit, it was stated that you know she was abused, like she did detail this particular incident in the paperwork and said that Puffy paid that hotel fifty thousand dollars to keep that video under wraps. So this is just absolutely horrible. And he knew that video was out there, and I think that he just knew that it was just a matter of time.
And now he just looks like the worst of the worst. He really couldn't believe it was at a time, because if he did, he wouldn't like the level of arrogance to sit up here o of this out again. His bodyguard said, it's a video out there, and that video is gonna surface. I knew it was gonna surface. We knew it was gonna surface. That's why nobody was saying nothing with the lady. The girl had everything she needed. This was not just some you know, I know these conspiracy theories like to make up this random This wasn't some random woman that he just met at the club and had one night six. This was a ten year relationship that girl. Know where all the bodies is buried, all those scales, right, everybody that was around. Oh, and they said Morris coming out. So brace yourself because they said Morris coming out. So this is not new. And again this was not just to her. He is known, according to was in a circle as a woman abuser. He's just known. This is not just what Kim's nose was broke. This is what this is what we know. We know Kim stabbed him with a court screw. I believe some a court to undo the wine, you know, to useual the court a well known thing. People know this about this man. People in this inner circle know this about him. It's nothing new abuse it is they don't a lot of times women think, oh, man, he's so crazy about me. No, it's not you. This is who this man is. He's like this with every woman. He wants to control every woman everything in his circle. Period. That's who this man is. So he couldn't have No. I mean, he knew it was out there, he just didn't think. Once again, his arrogance. Oh yeah, it's not going to surface. I pay for that. I took care of that.
Yeah.
Well no, Like the old folks say, everything in the dark eventually does come to light. And to be honest, I'm glad it came out so we can end this conversation with this who line and who money bag? And why women don't tell? And why don't they speak up? Why don't they this? And why don't they that? Because this is what it is. This is what y'all do when people speak up. Do women love on men? Absolutely? Have I seen women lie and say men have done things that did not? Yes? Absolutely? Have I seen women provoke things? Absolutely? But have I also seen women get beat down like that by men? Yes? This wasn't the first me watching That wasn't the first time I've seen men put chainsaws to women's heads. Growing up as a kid, I've seen this level of attack and abuse from men to women. So this is actually, unfortunately quite common to my eye. But the world needed to see it. The world needed to see this is what it looks like. You know, we just got done talking about oj you know, in the oldj case. And again, if people may not feel sorry for that ocaus she's a white woman, just say yes, no, this man was beating her ass all the time. This is actually what happens, despite the money, despite the stature, despite all of that, has nothing to do with that. It's about control. Just like rape is not about getting some ass. Rape is about control. This is about control. This man wants to control everything within his power in his circle, and this is what it is. I am curious, though, is he liked that with j Lo? Because sometimes, you know, even though abuses are abuses, they do sometimes pick and choose, you know, like who they go. I'm curious that if, just out of curiosity, if he ever tried to raise a hand to her, or if it ever or that was that all about show, or you know, was that something she kept on. I'm just really curious about that, which'all think I'm curious. I'm curious as well.
I know that Lunelle the comedian made a statement because Lunelle was really really good friends with Kim Porter as well, and she said that she bets if Diddy would have done anything like this to Jlo he would have gotten arrested immediately, you know, it just would have He would have been treated differently, And she didn't imply that if he would have done this to a white woman or Latino woman, anyone, but a black woman, the response from law enforcement and people around them would have been completely different. So, I mean, I kind of concur with that. But in terms of an abusive history or allegations between Jlo and Diddy, I haven't heard of any of those, but I kind of sighed with Lunelle. If that ever happened, I'm pretty sure Jalo would have come out and her team where somebody, her publicist or whoever she got with her around her would have made him be held accountable.
Now, let's LAPD, because again, there is a civil side of this, which he settled, and then there's the criminal side of it, which has nothing to do with the civil side, and people, no matter how many times we keep trying to educate people on it, they just keep conflating the two two totally different things. And LAPD did speak to the criminal side of that. Michelle, you want to tell us what they said?
Yeah, because there were a number of questions about, well, you know, if we have this video. Now, then why hasn't h been Why hasn't he been charged? Why hasn't the LDA, excuse me, LAPD gone through the work of making sure that he's held accountable for what it is Cassi went through, and you know, there were a number.
Of speculations as to why that was.
But the LAPD did come out with the statement as to why they weren't able to charge in basically that the statue of limitations did not allow for them to pursue the case. And I will read that statement, give me a moment to pull that up, but that is why they weren't able to press charges and charge Sean Colmes with what was seeing.
In the video. Okay, that's fine. You don't have to read it verbatim. You gave a good synopsis of it. So yeah, basically, these statue of limitations, you know, have been gone. And I do concur with Lennelle, But then at the same time I do have to I mean, the law is the law, Like we can look it up and see statute of limitations, so I can't. I don't want to just make it up and say, oh, well it been a white woman. They will go against the statue of limitary. I mean the statue of limitations is statue of limitations. But I do think that that is a conversation that should be on the table. You know, what would this look like if it happened to Kim? It did happen to Kim, and we know what it looked like. Nothing happened, so we don't we don't have to guess about what it looked like. We saw it and looked like. There's we's also we've also got a lot of Uh, well, let's play the apology quickly, and then we'll talk about if we believe it's.
So difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you got to do that. I was fucked up. I mean I hit rock bottom and I made no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.
Disgusted.
I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusting now going and I sought our professional help of going to therapy. I'm going to rehab and ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. I'm committed to be a better mansion every day. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry.
Okay, so that was the apology. Let's unpack that a little bit. I'll give my thoughts. The apology is really the Cassie, you know, and should, at my opinion, been directed to her. And I think an apology of apologizing for one what he's done to her, to her having to deal with being called a liar, including him calling her a liar, I think it would have to me it was it's important to acknowledge that you lied though just two weeks ago, Like, let's not pretend you didn't act like you know this. You didn't just say that these were all lies two weeks ago, So that was a big part of it that was missed. I do think the community deserves I don't know if we want to call it exteranation apology, because at the end of day, it's not for us to he harmed her. It's not for us to accept an apology on And I always struggle with these because when I see people talking about I accept your apology, how could you accept it? You wasn't the one to be down in the hallway. So that's the one so I have I have. I take issue with celebrities chiming in, you know, like I believe Peter did from Real Housewives about you know, I accept your apollo. You're like, how, I mean, you're not a position to accept it. You were not the harmed individual. So first, I think directing it at the harmed individual in a public way would have set better with me. Also acknowledging that you reckon you know that I would have appreciated it straight up saying, guys, I lied when this shit hit the fan, I didn't know what to do, flat out. I tried to cover my ass. I tried to cover my brand. I tried to you know whatever it is, like, just put the shit on the table, because that's what you did. Don't blame it on no advisors either, puff because these reason I wanted to really listen to advisors. Just so y'all know, so this wasn't no. That's another thing I'm having a problem with people saying his team telling him this, and team telling that. You don't know because you ain't ever been on his team? Did he really kind of move on his own? And a lot of ways, guys, So you guys don't know what you're talking about. With books set that to the side, but to really just say I was trying to cover my ass in my brand. All I've ever known is my brain. That's it. I fucked up. I lied. I lied to y'all. I lied to her. I'm mistreated. That would have did it a lot better for me, for me personally, But it's not up to me, you know what I'm saying, I'm not do. I believe in redemption. I do because I'm a Christian woman, so I believe that anybody can be redeemed. I got friends that have done heinous things or acquaintances people that I know that have done heinous things. So I when I say, hang it, I'm talking about murder taking life. Like really, you guys know, I know a lot of gang bangs. They've done a lot of heinous things. I do believe in redemption. I do, but I also know I'm not the redeemer. It's not up to me to decide who is redeemed and who's not. At the same time that I believe in redemption, Michelle and Jay, I also believe in consequences, though you don't get to escape the consequences, so you can ask for forgiveness and still have to do a life sentence. You can ask for forgiveness and be forgiven and still have to go to the to the electricture. You can ask for forgiveness and be forgiven, and the public can still say they don't want to fuck with you. You know how something mean to be like I should I should have just lied because if I knew I was gonna get in trouble, I should have just lied. No, that's not what it's about. It's about being truthful and held accountable and whatever consequence come with that. Man up, take that your as far as your public persona, that's over with. Charlemagne did hit that on the nail today. Stop trying to fix the public persona part. That's over with. Get right, get clean, get right with God. It's over with because saying oh I hear rock bottom, that was just a period of my life. No people are disputing that saying no, pup, this is how you've always been. This is how you work when you are Kim, this is how you've always been. So those are my thoughts on the guys. What do you think, Michelle on the apology?
I agree wholeheartedly. The road to redemption is paved by accountability. The willness to admit where you went wrong, where you could have done better, and to only come out and be held accountable after the evidence comes out, after given a definitive statement that nothing that has been said about me is true and none of the things that have been put out there actually occurred. There's just so much more that needs to be spoken to that that h did he didn't speak to it reeks of just you know, backtracking, clean up the mess and political you know, and public relations spin, not a real confession of misdeeds and a desire to redeem itself.
And I agree with.
You wholeheartedly that if anybody owed anything at this point, any apology, accountability and redemption is definitely Cassie.
Uh. But in order to do that, you've you've got to you gotta apologize to Cassie. There was no viology to Cassie in any of that. And the level of arrogance to say, just the level of arrogance to say people just lining against for a quick payday, like the level of it, and you know, damn well, and it ain't even about knowing the video out that they literally said his bodyguard said, the video is out there, and you're going to see it like literally he was told this, like literally told this, and you still this is fro to the Highes level, Like you just still kept on this mean ass line. This shit is crazy, Jay run us through some of the other responses that people have been comment on his apology.
Absolutely, and as I to profess that I would like to because I know you're a woman of receipts, Tesla. Also, I have to draw our attention to Diddy's December sixth, twenty twenty three Instagram posts that is still on his page, by the way, that was.
Right by the way, Ye can he take that down? Is anybody gonna take that down? That's what I was like, y'all might want to take that down. We got it up.
But I think that it goes into your point, teslaing and your appointment Shelle, that this is you know, arrogance to the highest degree. So this is what did he said? This is still up. This is from December to the sixth, twenty twenty three.
Quote. Enough is enough.
For the last couple of 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. Sean Diddy Combs. He wrote this tweet back in December when Cassie filed her lawsuit, and we know that that lawsuit was settled the very next day. This statement is still on his Instagram, So we juxtaposed what he said back here in December when she came out with the lawsuit and this incident was even described, you know, this incident from the horrible hotel video that we're discussing today, you know, and you look at the statement that he put out yesterday with this apology. It is so disingenuous because if he really, I mean, it goes beyond apologies for me. What we're talking about here is actual atonement, which means, according to Harry and Webster, is reparation for an offense or injury right satisfactorily, you know, reconciling something that you have done in repairing the harm for an offense or an injury. And he has not done that. He is just mad that he got caught right, Yeah, because really this was all about his his his perception of himself, his legacy. Right, he said, enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation, and my legacy. He actually did, he did that to himself. So he's just been blaming everybody. So you know, but at the end of the day, narciss is arenover wrong and when they do apologize, it's a half assed apology.
I'm not buying that. Yeah, let's send this Why they doing it to him now? And why him? And why no, he did this to himself. That's the bottom line Again, when I talking about somebody he just met at the club and somebody set them up, and maybe is that we're talking about a long standing relationship that he had with this woman, beating this woman's ass for ten years. Bottom line, she got out the relationship, and y'all can suspend it whatever way y'all want to. The white man told her to do it, whoever told her to do it. Bottom line is she got out of the relationship. She spoke up. She told this man, I'm getting ready to speak up. You need to pay a tone, which means paid for your what you did. And yes, guys, in America, that's how it works. That's how it works. Were you paid for your you pay for your scene. That's how it works. We don't exchange Roman noodles in the courthouse. She told him she needs civil versus criminal. That's why you have these different courts to deal with these different issues.
And when it's outside the statue, limitations were there are other limitations in the criminal court. That's why you have the opportunity to seek recourse in the civil court.
That's right, instance, that's right. And say money means so much to him in particularly, yes, that is a punishment to have to pay. He did not believe her. He called her blood and he fucked around and found out she put it out there. She dealt with everything. They came with it. Now, I'm gonna be interested to see if he tried to spend this because when he say I didn't do any of the things, now, I wonder if you're gonna say, well, I wasn't talking about Casie. I was talking about because you know, a bunch of other stuff came out to the diddy parties, the hetero s you know, the homosexual stuff, all of that, But no, Puff, we know you was talking about Castie, So don't even try to I'm just putting it after that. I don't try to spend that. Be done with the spin at this point.
See, well, that sat on there within twenty four hours told us everything we need to know.
It told us everything we need to know. But the people that were still making excuses for him still say, well, that's just how it is better to get it on out the way. I mean, they did the same thing with everybody, did that every time. All it's just better. Oh yeah, Michael Jackson's better. He just settled, just moving on out the way. So people even find reason for that, you know what I mean, they justify it. Even still with this video, people are saying, why show the video now cause Nigga's like, you need to see it, People like you, the ones who were in the comments of the saying why show it now? Why do we need to see the video?
Why?
Because you needed to see it. You needed to see it, So just sit this one out.
You know that we're trying to say that, Oh what, maybe that wasn't Puffy, But now he came to God, girl, he actually said like, hey, I you know, I take responsibility for this. Then okay, now they can't these people online I called him the fuck Boy FA faction, the fuck Boy faction people like to kate for this, you know, horrible behavior, like there's no defense right now at this point.
And it made him say it, that they made him say it or something somebody that they got some kind of I'm sure if you dig deep enough into it, you'll you'll find something. You probably did that deep it's probably right on the service. What are some of the other responses, though, Jay, because I know the mayors spoke out on it as well. The Mayor of New York Mayor.
Of New York said that he is He said it was absolutely horrible. He's disgusted by the video, and he is considering rescinding the Key of the City that New York City gave to Diddy. If they take back the key of the city, which is a great honor to receive the key of the city anywhere, that would be the first time that it was actually rescinded in New York City over something.
So we have to look and see what happens.
Cassie's lawyer is not buying did he statement that he put out yesterday on Instagram.
Whatsoever.
Cassieven Tours lawyer Meredith Firetog responded to the apology and a statement obtained by People magazine, and the statement read quote, Combs's most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. When Cassie and multiple other women came before, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. That he was only compelled to apologize once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.
End quote.
So that was from Cassie's attorney. Cassie herself has not made a statement. However, her husband had has made a statement. Cassie's husband's name is Alex Fine, and he issued a statement on Instagram just really speaking on violence against women and men who hate women that engage in domestic violence. I'm gonna read the statement here. It says, letter to women and children. Men who hit women aren't men. Men who enable it and protect these people aren't men as men. Violence against women shouldn't be, and shouldn't be inevitable. Check your brothers, your friends, and your family. Our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives should feel protected and love. Hold the women in your life with the utmost regard. Men who hurt women hate men. Excuse me, men who hurt women hate women. To all the survivors. Find the men and women who help and love to all the survivors. Your stories are real, and people believe you. To all the survivors, you're not alone, and there are men and women who care on care only for your wealth being in safety. We want you to succeed and flourish. To all the women and children, I'm sorry you live in a world where you're not protected and you don't feel equal. I want to raise my daughters in a world where they are safe and love. To the abusers, You're done. You're not safe anymore. You're not protected anymore. The men by your side are just as weak. So you're so miserable with yourself that blank would be considered oh alive and would be considered a kindness.
End quote.
So that was from Alex Fine, a white man. I must say, who is the spouse of Cassie Ventur? So he had some choice words. The other thing is, I think we spoke on May Eric Adams. And then the final thing I will say before we get into the next statement test is that Vishal Tdjakes also did mention domestic violence in his church service yesterday. He did see the He did see the video. He said that he was approached by one of his congregation members on the way into church and she asked him to pray for women who are experiencing domestic violence in their homes right now, and so he had some words.
He was very, very frustrated and angered by what he saw.
And he did say that it just reminded him, you know, he as a father. It was just really really hard for him to yeah, but he said he could. He didn't speak to a flat although.
He took the issue of domestic violence, but not specifically of this. And you know, again, I love Bishop shout out to bishit. That was my first church, like before it blew up in nineteen ninety eight when I lived in Dallas, Texas, and I need him to speak to it. Like, if you're gonna speak to us, speak to it. Let let's not sit around. And you know, y'all saw the video online. What vid are you talking about? Bishop? Like I'm really getting tired of like I need passes to like speak up on shit, and especially since this wasn't a shit of yours, Bishop, and so if you are speaking up now, halfway speaking up, it makes me think you're just doing that for the sake of trying to keep yourself kind of distance, because you've been in the mix but still not full throated. What did he did was wrong. And so this is just my person my personal experience, because again, I bishop has touched my life in ways in some of my darkest times, like literally that I've been through going through his church. But I also watch how he handled the Bishop Eddie Long issues, and I watched how he didn't speak on that and said, you know, we ain't gonna speak on it, we ain't gonna gossip, we ain't gonna this that. And I think Bishop be skating, you know, skating around a lot of shit bishops. So I really I wasn't really moved by that. I think I think if you're going as a man of God, I don't know. I just I'm more of a fan of how your pastor Jamal Brian, which we'll talk about and next and the next episode on Ermin Fortson's church Ermond Fortson's funeral. I just I just need passes to call it like it is, Like call it like it is, if you're gonna do it, calling like it is. And so I so for me, I wasn't really moved by that. To me, do we need leadership in this time, in this space and our minister should be leading us. You should be leading us, not this pussy footing around it. Saw the video woman came to all the women that feel scared. No, talk to your brother, talk to your son. This was a man that you took under your wing. Talk to him. You can still, Hey, come to me, prepare coming whatever you need help, brother, Like, come on, speak to this. They got you mixed up saying you were partying with this man. Be clear about where you stand in this moment, in this hour. So I ain't really feeling it at all. I hear you on that.
So the other thing I wanted to say, you know, to get your you'all thoughts on. Now we know that Puffy did part ways with Revald TV, but even Revolt TV put out a very very clear statement that, in my opinion, is a demonstration of leadership. This is what Revolts put out on Instagram. Quote, we are deeply saddened and disturbed by the recent video circulating of our former chairman, Sean Diddy Combs. Even with his recent separation from Revolt, it is still our duty to address this matter and recognize the direct impact it has on our staff, our audience, and the culture we represent. Revolt stands in solidarity with all who have been victimized victims of abuse, and remain committed to upholding the values and integrity of our community that our community expects from us. We vehemently stand against any form of domestic abuse and will always be a fearless advocate for truth and accountability. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at eight hundred seven nine nine seven two three three end quotes.
Heavy inshasis on the former chairman right clearly for there was right.
This statement is basically reminding y'all, we gota h do with this nig over is so. But we will stay with and I will speak to you know, being with Revolt, And you know, guys, I don't talk a lot of inside baseball because I just don't. It's not that's it's internal conversation. But I will tell you that being with Revolt, this has been tough on This is the part that people don't see, like the hundreds of employees that lost their job as a result of this, because there's no more Revolt Black News, that whole division is gone. The dozens and I mean dozens up on dozens of calls that we've that we've been on with the women in Revolt and how they feel and really processing the unpacking. Shout out to the chairman, the Tavio. He has really like made space for women to be heard. He has really like taken people just have no idea like what's been going on behind the scene means of just navigating this of even staff like you know, what do we say? How do we say it? How do we you know what's gonna happen to the company? What does this mean for us? A place where we used to be proud to be a part of. You know, you've seen me, Michelle like go in every time I go to Revolting showing videos of Puff and Biggie on the wall, and you think about the dream of hip hop and politics, like wow, because I really thought I was gonna be MC, and I just had no idea that MC my mic would be in politics, and so to merge those worlds together, and this just means from a selfish standpoint, to merge those worlds together and to go in and look at that, and I would play the it's all a dream and seeing your name on the wall, like no, we literally are taking hip hop and politics and merging that. To even have had the ability to be able to coach Puff, you just think about take this ugly, ugly, ugly man that we know, or that that we just got introduced to the man that the public knew prior to that for me to have an opportunity for him to call me and say, Tez, what do I say? Okay, Puff, listen to Fanny Little Hammer first, and then when you listen to this, and to actually even be producing him, and I still got the recordings because I'll never forget it, to even be producing Puff, the producer of all producers on what to say in this moment in politics and how do you and what? And then to haven't even called you back and say did I do good? Think about that? Like think about Puff, like just think about making the band and how hard he was on artists, and how to him be asking me did I do good? To make sure I was. I'm telling you, God, this has this is a lot, like this is a lot. I am not saying that to minimize anything that happened with Cassie. She deserves all of the respect and the gratitude and the grace to heal, and all the money and all the program and all the upliftment and everything and anybody else that this it's hurt, but our community really took a loss. It really took a loss. We're talking at somebody impacted an entire twenty year span, not just in music either, humanitarian work. Really wanting to see you know, as bad as he is, I don't know if he was doing that to atone, if it was guilt, whatever it was. But what I do know is we can't call any other billionaire to say, hey, people want to learn how to be a candy? Can you help us on push the line. I just can't ignore those things. And it's just saddening. It's just sick, like this whole thing. Gouy just being very honest, it's just sick. It's just sad. It's just really going out sad. It just really, really is. We had a big loss here, he had a greater loss. And I'm not even I'm not even talking about me. I'm at the bottom. I'm just four years in the game. Think about people like Mary J. Blige, whose whole career, you know, this was a brother to her, little Kim one twelve, so many people. But also think but all the people that got screwed over to they sitting back Mace, all of them, like Craig Ma, they all like, eventually it was gonna you know, what comes to light, you know, like they say, was in the dark, comes of light. So this is a very complex story. I guess lifetime at some point we have the story of Sean diagcause this is just a hell of a story. I mean, it's just a hell of a story, like the the the jeckal and Hide the evil versus the good. It's just sad, guys, and the conversation is far from over. Yeah, there will be more that needs to get said. I'm glad Revote put out this statement. I'm glad they did not run from the very obvious thing. There were some folks that wanted some things said earlier, but people always have to realize like jumping out that we've seen like people can have these hot takes and hot takes and not take and sometimes when you jump out there, even if you're on the right side, uh, sometimes legally, it can put you in a in a real bad position. So people got to consider that too, Like there's always people have to be mind full of what they say is organizations. And so I know people wanted Revolt to say something a lot sooner. They did put out a domestic violence when it first came out, but they didn't speak to it directly, and so there was a lot of conversation about that, like she would be speaking to it directly or not directly. But then also it had nothing to do with him just being the chairman. It's had everything to do with a civil suit. No judge had determined who was right or wrong or any epp, you know what I mean. So people got to be mindful of organizations. Just saying something can also put you in illegal jeopardy as well. So now that the video has come out, I do appreciate revolt Or making that statement. I've even said to myself, should I take Revolt off? Should I not take But then that would erased all the work that Revolters did that has nothing to do with Puff. You know, he started it, but we made that work, you know what I mean. So I'm just kind of in the lost guys, I don't have a lot of work. Yeah, it was interesting.
I think you and I were having this conversation recently, and unfortunately, this entire situation it kind of put a stain on that era within hip hop, you know, with all of those artists that worked really, really hard, and a lot of them you know, did make contributions to the music, but they all make contributions to the culture. I just it's just really unfortunate that this whole bad boy era and a lot of the artists that we were even in proximity to Puff kind of have a stain on them because of what his you know, what his actions were, you know. And then some people were complicit. Some people were very well aware of the abuse and and witness things. Some of them have spoken out, a lot of them didn't. But it's just really unfortunate that this does seem to put a stain on that absolutely does.
You won't be able to at least I know I can't, and I don't know this because I'm connected indirectly or what. But I can't even listen to a song now without thinking them. Same thing with R Kelly, like yes, it puts a stain on without a doubt. Without you, you.
Don't you don't even know how much he done to impact until you do things like I've listened to my Spotify life list and every fourth and fifth song is an artist that Puffy was either on.
The track with, or produced or brought out.
He brought out Icon's bid is an icon, you know, and Puff was connected to that. Buff was connected to Shawn John. So he's had a mark on fashion making. The band was one of the first reality shows that was entered on black culture, black music, and essentially blackness that I can remember, you know, So we had a mark on television.
Even the cologne, like the cologne inspired Like I mean, he heard cologne and I was like, is that that Sean John? And I was like, damn, he can't even wear the cologne that like like a guy Like I'm saying, this is like a lot that's gonna have to be processed for real and that's not minimizing Like her, she'd no, I'm glad it came out, guys. I mean, it's the ugly truth that we just got to walk down together. We just got to walk through it together. Twenty twenty four, the elders are on the throne. Let's expose on all the fuck shit. Let's just deal with it. Let's just let's just walk through it. Let's deal with it. It is what it is. I'm looking forward to some more shit getting exposed, be quite honest with you, I'd rather know where we are than than live under bullshit. But it is going to take a lot. Like, there's just a lot that's gonna come with this, There's a lot, yes, talking about the ripple effect. The rocket is what happened with Cassie.
The ripple effect is the impact now on the music that we listen to and the culture and the icons that he's in, his family, everything else, the people he's employed.
My friend is his former CEO, like worked really hard the last eight years trying to turn that around. He came in when Puff was really going through a dark porod after losing Kim and all of that. And he don't know this side. I believe him when he say he don't know this side of that. I believe him. I believe And when he said, I focused on the business, on the brand, I wasn't doing at no party doing this type. And now they got to look for opportunities with people looking at them sideways. You know what I'm saying, Like it's just right the riffect. Yes, and the impact is greater than what was. Yes. Shout out to doctor Steve. He had to separate from Puff. Puff helped him start a charter school. We're talking about hundreds and thousands of kids that came up through that charter school with Puff in the picture, you know, because he believed in them and their future. And now it's a lot like kids are involved in this, Like it's just a lot guys. And so we just you know, we just got to continue to just keep having a conversation. And when I say we meaning everybody gonna continue to keep having a conversation. You know, I wanted to put it on the pod, just to put it on the record. I'm not one, you know too. I think a lot has been said, and I also want to say this before we close out. I also think this is something that men need to be talking about, you know. I think men need to be addressed in this The men, podcasters, the men I know, my science says some stuff, I know, the pivot says and stuff where the men at like this, this is the moment where these these men that say women need to stab women, women need to stab men conversations. Let's set the men talk about this and what they need to be doing. That's that's what I'm looking for. I'm looking to see where on this So I find that interesting.
Yeah, you need a bulletforn for that for everybody in the back outside in the crowd that didn't hear that one. Yes, we need to see, you know, where men stand on this. And I appreciate the conversation and what it's also raising. And I'm seeing in different comments and threads or other moments, whether it be in reality TV or music or the life, where women have come forward talking about similar allegations and a lot of that is being brought back to the surface. I remember seeing a clip of Charae with the Housewives of Atlanta and that there was a clip where she was sitting with her ex husband and talking about that be she separating. Yeah, so you know, seeing that stuff being resurfaced and looking at it from a new look, from a different lens than maybe it was viewed from when it came out.
I think, is it's good that these conversations are happening and that this stuff is reservicing, so we can, you know, analyze what is it we're watching or what are we condoning? And you know, well, I'm particularly since I know people connected him, since I've been connected him, I'm particularly I want to be clear. I want to know who's gonna say something on the people who actually know him. That's what I'm looking for, you know, not just random people like my Sign spoke up. My son did not have to took a lot of criticism because he didn't say anything at the beginning. He said he just he couldn't speak on a civil suit. But he spoke up. Puff has been very kind to until Freedom, you know, and you guys may be aware. He literally created an award for Timika Mallory and he's invested a lot in their organization. So my Sign did not have to speak up. He could have just kept it moving and said, hey, you been good to me, so what's the point speaking up. Charlemagne also spoke up today. As you guys know, the Breakfast Club was with Revolt, having been in a few years. I don't know why people thinking they are, but they're not. But Revolt was the first one to put the Breakfast Club on TV, and so Charlemagne also could have just went on and went in a different direction. So me personally, since I know him and know people connected him, I'm not looking for all these random I want to know. I'm interested to see the people that know what they gonna say. It's just gonna be just gonna be something interesting to see. And maybe they don't say anything. Maybe some people feel like the pow longs enough enough people are saying stuff, they don't have to have a hot take on everything. So guys, we're gonna continue to keep following this story if something new develops against what something is new development, because they said it's far from over, So we'll pick it up from here unfortunately, and we'll continue to unpack this here. Twenty twenty four. Thank you so much Jada Michelle for joining me. You can join us as we continue to drop. I'm adding new episodes on Tuesday and Thursday, so make sure you listen to both. Subscribe to the podcast Straight Shot No Chase to a test on figure Out. You can find it anywhere you get your podcasts, We will see you on our next episode Peace. If you like what you heard on Straight Shot No Chaser, please subscribe and drump a five star review and tell a friend. Straight Shot No Chaser is a production of The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartRadio on TILM figure Out and I like to thank our producer editor mixer Dwayne Crawford and our executive producer Charlott Magne to God. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.
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