Dr. Umar Johnson has come out to question the high media attention Sean “Diddy” Combs has been receiving over the last months, particularly over sex trafficking charges, insinuating it may be a ploy to get people’s minds off more serious political ills. According to Dr. Umar, all this highly hyped attention to Diddy’s case diverts attention from critical political developments pre-2024 presidential elections, especially those things touching Black communities.
Dr. Umar has said recently that, though Diddy’s case should not be written off, he does not understand why this media frenzy is now such a topic of interest. Instead, he feels that today, the covering of the music mogul’s legal battles buries some big legislative changes, such as changes with voting rights, key policies that could be affecting Black America. “I’m not here to defend Diddy’s actions,” he wrote in a social media post,
“but I am here to question why this story is being blown up right now when so much is happening politically.”
The comments by Johnson have created an uproar, especially amongst internet users, with some taking to social media to give a mixed reaction.
Some laud Dr. Umar, saying celebrity scandals headline every other week and push forward, moving thelimelight away from some very relevant political activities.
One popular tweet for this sentiment was taken from,
“Any time there is going to be a major election, you can rest assured some celebrity scandal will outshine the real issues.” Another said, “We need to be focusing on policy, not focusing on what’s happening in Hollywood.”
Not everyone agrees with Dr. Umar. Critics say Diddy’s legal issues-especially at the severity of the allegations-merit investigation and attention. “This isn’t a distraction, it’s a serious case involving sex trafficking. The media should be covering it,” worked off one social media commenter.
Another added, “Just because it’s an election year doesn’t mean we can ignore what’s happening in the entertainment world, especially when serious crimes are involved.”
I do not condone any illegal activity, let alone sex trafficking,” he said. He, however, remains skeptical over the media’s headlines. “These allegations are serious, no doubt. But we have to ask why the media is choosing to focus on this, and why now? There’s a lot happening behind the scenes politically that we aren’t paying attention to,” he said in an interview with YouTube recently.
This is not the first time that voices from public life have shown concern about manipulation in the media during electorate cycles. Many have been floating the idea that nonstop coverage on celebrity scandals helps to drive the public away from key political events or any kind of effective legislation being passed. The comments of Dr. Umar play into an overall narrative where media organizations would rather at least appear to set aside substance for sensationalism, especially when there is a pivotal change in politics.
