Bill Maher wonders why it seems like the music industry has never been affected by the #MeToo movement until now, with the recent arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Since the #MeToo movement went viral in 2017, hundreds of powerful people have been accused of sex crimes, with some Hollywood notables convicted, including disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
But on Friday's episode of In real time with Bill Maherspeaking with author Fran Lebowitz, the comedian brought up Combs' federal charges and their impact on the music industry as a whole.
“I've been asking this question for seven years, since 2017, when the #MeToo thing happened,” Maher said. “Why… why not the music industry? I mean, they went after NPR pretty hard. Like four, five NPR guys showed up, like old guys who posted, like, a scandalous limerick on the bookstore door.
“The music industry is an open cesspool of misogyny and, frankly, rape and sexual harassment and, somehow, the angel of death has flown over them,” the host added before asking, “Why do you think that happen?”
Lebowitz responded: “I think because this is a capitalist country and the music industry is much more profitable than NPR. That would be my guess.
“A lot of stories about everyone starting with #MeToo, I had heard a lot of them for many years,” he continued. “So, Puffy, this wasn't exactly a state secret. But apparently it was a state secret for them.”
In addition to facing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, Combs has also been hit with numerous lawsuits from men and women, including ex Cassie Ventura, who accused him of rape and abuse in a complaint filed against the rapper last November. Most recently, Thalia Graves alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that Combs drugged and raped her in 2001.
The rapper is currently in prison awaiting trial after being denied bail after pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His arrest came months after the FBI raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.