The recent headlines surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs (from trafficking allegations to shocking video footage, followed by no criminal conviction for human trafficking) have left the public confused, divided, and in some cases, dismissive. For those of us working every day to prevent human trafficking and support survivors, this moment is not about one man. It’s about what the public still doesn’t understand about what trafficking is and isn’t.
Let’s be clear: Human trafficking doesn’t always look like what people imagine.
It’s not always kidnapping.
And it certainly doesn’t require someone to be forcibly relocated across a border.
More often, it looks like coercion — subtle, persistent, and psychological. It looks like someone with power exploiting trust, fear, economic instability, or addiction. It can happen in homes, hotels, schools, and more. It can be orchestrated by strangers or by someone the survivor knows intimately. And yet, because it doesn’t match the “Taken”-style narrative we’ve become accustomed to, people struggle to recognize it.
When someone like Combs faces multiple civil lawsuits and allegations involving trafficking-related abuse — but no criminal conviction — the public often defaults to the wrong conclusion: “It must not have happened.”
But here’s the truth:
- Most trafficking survivors never see justice in a courtroom.
- Proving coercion, control, — especially against people in popular culture or high-profile positions— is legally difficult and emotionally devastating.
- Survivors are retraumatized when their stories are scrutinized, disbelieved, or sensationalized in the media.
- Our legal systems are not set up to center survivors, and our cultural understanding of trafficking remains outdated and incomplete.
The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, believes this is a moment for learning — not judgment. We encourage the public, the media, and policymakers to stop asking “Why wasn’t he convicted?” and start asking “What would it take for survivors to feel safe coming forward — and for our systems to believe them when they do?”
This case is a wake-up call. The fact that a trafficking case didn’t end in conviction isn’t proof that trafficking didn’t happen. It’s proof that we need stronger systems of accountability, trauma-informed care, and public education.
This is why The Collaborative does the work we do:
✔️ Training the general public and social service professionals to recognize and respond to trafficking
✔️ Building coordinated systems that prevent and address harm
✔️ Centering survivor voices in our advocacy
✔️ Helping the public understand that trafficking is complex and very real
Now is the time to take action. Sign up for a training to deepen your understanding, stay engaged, and help prevent harm before it starts.
Upcoming FREE training opportunities:
FREE July Fundamentals
Tuesday, July 15 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
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FREE August Fundamentals
Tuesday, August 19 | 11:30 PM – 1:00 PM
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FREE September Fundamentals
Tuesday, September 16 5:30 PM – 7:00PM
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This 90-minute training is for individuals, teams, HR departments, classrooms, and community groups. Bring a colleague, invite your students, or encourage your workplace to attend together.
Thank you for taking action. When we’re informed, we can recognize the signs, interrupt the cycles, and ensure that survivors are heard, believed, and supported.
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Last modified: July 8, 2025