Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber and Usher are just a few celebrities who have gained attention for their past ties to Diddy
As news of Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ arrest in New York City last week continues to grab headlines, some of Hollywood’s elite are gaining unwanted attention and scrutiny due to their recent and past ties to the music mogul despite not being implicated in Diddy’s criminal case.
Diddy was arrested and charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.
While some stars have spoken out, others — those who have been known to have close ties with Diddy — have remained quiet. Despite the immediate speculation surrounding their silence, not addressing the noise is actually “the best option,” according to Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR.
“In high-profile situations like this, an informational vacuum creates an opportunity for that void to be filled with misinformation, driven by inaccurate assumptions, often based on speculation and lack of concrete evidence,” Elrdige told Fox News Digital.
”For those in Diddy’s circle — no matter how tangentially they might have been affiliated — it’s guilt by association; at least in the court of public opinion. Innocent or guilty are objective outcomes; fair is a subjective sentiment that doesn’t really exist anymore.
“A fire requires oxygen to survive; in this case, celebrities need to think twice about whether they want to blow on this flame and make it grow brighter,” Eldridge continued. “Right now, there is a dual consideration for celebrities who are being associated with Diddy — whether rightly or wrongly. The first is their legal liability and vulnerability; anything they put out in the public sphere will be admissible and relevant.
“The second goes more toward the court of public opinion; if there is no basis or validity to the speculation, then making a statement or addressing it publicly only serves to draw undue attention and possibly give unintended credence or legitimacy to otherwise baseless speculation,” he continued. “In other words, silence is sometimes the best option, especially in our current ‘fire hose’ media environment. While the Diddy storyline isn’t going away anytime soon, the individual speculation ebbs and flows.”
