Greed, power and sex: The dark underbelly of showbiz

P Diddy [Facebook]

American musician Diddy (Sean Combs), 54, is the latest in a long list of powerful stars arrested over stunning accusations.

He was arrested and charged last week with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution. His arrest is predictably sending shockwaves across the showbiz world.

The charges, which detail allegations dating back to 2008, accuse him of abusing, threatening, and coercing women for years "to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct." He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his arrest, he was denied bail by a judge after he offered both his and his mother’s homes in Miami—worth $50 million—as collateral. He is currently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

There, he is said to be suicidal, but the authorities are dismissing the claims.

The pandemonium has led to the abrupt closure of all four locations of Kevin Hart’s fast-food vegan restaurant chain, Hart House, in Los Angeles.

Usher and Pink have also deleted their tweets on X. Usher has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he was hacked.

The 45-year-old R&B singer later tweeted: “Account got hacked and damn y’all ran with it! See you tonight at Intuit Dome.” He has previously spoken about his experiences with Diddy and described his early days as “wild.” Top music executives have stepped down, including Kevin Liles, who resigned from his Warner Music Group Executive VP position.

Like rats deserting a sinking ship, his close associates are trying to distance themselves from him.

The first was Meek Mill, downplaying his closeness to Diddy by stating that he wanted to hire a private investigator to find out how his name became entangled with Diddy in the ongoing case.

“I wanna hire an investigative team 100k cash,” he tweeted. “To find out every specific detail involving Meek Mill’s name in the ‘Diddy’ case.”

“Streets know wassup with me; that’s not the case,” Meek asserted. “We’re talking about the business side. Somebody is powering these bad campaigns.”

50 Cent’s Documentary

Earlier this year, rapper 50 Cent, who has had beef with Diddy since the 2000s, revealed that his documentary on Diddy’s allegations has been sold to the streaming service Netflix.

“Ok guys, we’re all making good television. Mine just happens to be the best!” 50 Cent wrote on social media, in part, alongside a split image of him and Diddy.

“Netflix wins the bidding war, but if more victims keep coming out … I’m gonna need more episodes.”

Some industry veterans have spoken about how extreme the parties have been, with comedian Katt Williams claiming he had refused $50 million four times.

50 Cent [Instagram]

In a January interview with podcaster Shannon Sharpe, Williams predicted Diddy’s downfall and further predicted that many industry heavyweights would fall with him.

US-based Kenyan rapper Nonini warns that artists need to be cautious and not envious when it comes to climbing the industry ladder.

“It’s simple: I always tell people not to envy all the glitz and glamour because people are doing weird stuff to get that. A steady, slow process will have you sleep at night in peace. I always followed DMX, Kanye West, and Jaguar Wright, and they started speaking about this weird stuff in the American music industry. When you see someone on the global stage out of nowhere? Be very wary,” he says.

The Kenyan Case

The genge godfather says the same is happening in Kenya and is driven by greed, power, and the desire for respect—people seeking respect, money, and power in the wrong order.

“People want to use shortcuts to succeed,” he says.

Songstress Qty has seen it all in her career, which spans over two decades.

“The entertainment industry is the same everywhere. Many things happen but are not talked about. Yes, gatekeepers use their power in bad ways and have been frustrating upcoming artists. I know of a great artist who gave up just because of that... actually, here it might be worse, but we just don’t talk about it,” she says.

“My friend was very talented and was an upcoming artist. When we were called to do a hit collaboration by our promoter, who owned the studio, he used to force her to have sex with a certain Tanzanian artist who came to the studio to record. She left the music industry after a lot of frustration and drama,” reveals Qty.

She says this is one of the main reasons only a few women during her era made it big.

The DJ industry is no small feat to succeed in, especially for female DJs. Award-winning entertainer DJ Saye has seen it all.

“I have seen people not get gigs because of how they look—because they feel you are not pretty enough. If a certain big name does not acknowledge you in his circle, then at times you have to bribe someone or give them their cut. The industry from the outside is glamorous, but once you get into it, it is weird and wicked.

“When it comes to accountability, the same way it’s lacking in the government is the same way it works in the entertainment industry. The same faces you saw controlling things two decades ago are the same holding the reins of the industry, which hinders the growth of emerging talents,” she says. She is not alone when it comes to exploitation in the industry.

“I remember a while back when I started my modelling career, a friend had told me about this big artist who was casting for video vixens. From the description provided, I knew I would fit,” says model and influencer Mercy Masai.

“However, when we went to his place in Syokimau, where the video shoot was to take place, I was surprised. Instead of a set full of cameras and all, it was just him and his friends having a good time,” she says.

“From what I had heard from previous shoots, I knew that some people spike drinks, so I was cautious not to take anything. I was there for a job, and when it became apparent that no such thing was happening, plans quickly changed, and it became a house party.

“More girls trooped in, and I knew that it was not going to end well, although the girls who were there did not seem to mind. I took the earliest opportunity to escape,” she says.

Alcohol and drugs [iStockphoto]

Publicist Gloria Adhiambo believes gatekeeping is an unfortunate reality in both Hollywood and Kenya’s entertainment industries.

“In many ways, the showbiz landscape in 254 mirrors what we’ve seen internationally, with a few powerful individuals or organizations controlling access to key platforms, events, and opportunities,” she says.

“It’s not uncommon for emerging talents to feel frustrated or sidelined by these gatekeepers, who sometimes demand loyalty, favors, or even financial incentives to provide opportunities,” says Gloria.

“Personally, I’ve encountered these dynamics while working with emerging artists and brands. Often, they are talented but struggle to get the recognition they deserve because they don’t have the right ‘connections’ or aren’t willing to play along with exploitative demands.

“This creates a toxic cycle, where creativity is stifled, and only a select few are given the platform to shine,” says Gloria.

While it looks gloomy from the outset, there is hope for those who are persistent and committed to their careers.

“However, from my experience in PR, I know that this isn’t the end of the road. It’s possible to bypass these gatekeepers by taking control of your narrative and building your brand independently. We live in a digital age where social media, influencer marketing, and other tools can allow artists to engage directly with their audience.

“I’ve worked on campaigns where we focused on amplifying the artist’s voice through non-traditional channels, bypassing the usual gatekeepers, and creating authentic connections with fans,” she says.