CNN
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John Legend is speaking publicly for the first time about the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, who collaborated with the former “Voice” coach on a song released last year.
In an interview published Thursday to discuss his new podcast with CNN International’s Christian Amanpour “Afghan Star” Referring to hotel surveillance footage obtained and released by CNN earlier this month, he said he was “horrified by the allegations” and “the video evidence that has since been released.” Ventura in a 2016 incident.
“I was horrified by the descriptions I read before the video evidence came out,” Legend added. “It’s something that needs to be brought to light when it happens.”
The 2016 assault was first cited in a November 2023 lawsuit filed against Combs, who he dated from 2007 to 2018. At the time Combs denied the allegations outlined in Ventura’s lawsuit — which was settled out of court a day later. The video was filed months before its release.
“My default position is to believe women when they make these allegations and to make sure we do everything we can to support women,” Legend said. “They will be asked and what kind of accountability and reparations can be made to make these women whole again,” she hoped.
Legend said it’s “shameful” that Combs has been accused and that he only wishes “the best” for Ventura and “everyone else he’s accused of abusing them.”
“It’s such a shame,” the “Everything to Me” singer said. “I really want accountability and some healing for all of his victims.”
Combs is named in eight civil lawsuits, including Ventura’s now-resolved 2023 complaint, all of which contain allegations of sexual assault. Outside of his video apology admitting the 2016 attack on Ventura, Combs has denied the charges, and seven other cases are active.
Last year, Legend and Babyface teamed up with Combs on a track from her 2023 album “The Love Album: Off the Grid” titled “Kim Porter,” named after Combs’ former partner, with whom they share three children. Porter died of pneumonia in 2018.
Legend spoke to Amanpour about his new podcast series, “Afghan Star,” which tells the inspiring story behind the competition reality show of the same name that scoured Afghanistan for talented singers.
“It was a remarkable show about the power of music, the power of people’s resilience and was quite revolutionary for its time,” he said. “It really got the attention of the nation…I find the story inspiring, but it really shows you the power of music and the power of the human spirit.”
“Afghan Star” first aired in 2005 and ran for 15 seasons. Legend hailed the series as “very revolutionary” for the country, saying that instruments were “burned in the street” during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan prior to the show’s debut.
The Taliban have retaken control of Afghanistan’s capital after nearly two decades of being driven from Kabul by US forces.
“Even with the Taliban back in charge, music isn’t dead in Afghanistan anymore,” Legend said. “The spirit that has been awakened and revived in Afghanistan by shows like ‘Afghan Star’ and other associations with music and entertainment, I think it’s hard to bottle it back up.”
