Mayor Adams Defends Giving NYC Key To Diddy: “We’re All Going Through Something”

Mayor Eric Adams has found himself on the defensive over his decision to give Sean “Diddy” Combs a key to the city. Adams is standing by his choice even as Combs faces federal charges, including sex trafficking and numerous allegations.

On The Stephen A. Smith Show earlier this week, Adams doubled down on his September 2023 decision to give the disgraced rapper the key to NYC. “There’s a whole paneling committee, and what we did, we broke it up into entertainers, as well as those who contribute to the city,” he said. The committee, according to Adams, looked at Diddy’s “contributions” before deciding he deserved the honor. Are the contributions baby oil, perhaps? Or trafficked women? What “contributions” is he speaking of? 

Though Combs is recorded on camera reportedly abusing his ex, Cassie Ventura, I won’t exclude the fact that he is a Harlem native, a business mogul, and once a legend in the music industry. But we really cannot ignore the video footage published by CNN showing him allegedly attacking his former girlfriend, followed by over 30 lawsuits accusing him of various sex crimes dating back decades. He’s also facing allegations of raping minors. 

After publicly asking Combs to return the key (following the committee’s recommendation), Adams still managed to strike a surprisingly empathetic tone toward the embattled artist. “Listen, my heart goes out to him as he goes through his legal struggles,” Adams told Smith. A man accused of heinous crimes has the mayor of New York extending him heartfelt sympathies.

Smith pushed back, asking if Adams’ sentiment was about the presumption of innocence. Adams confirmed: “Exactly.” He then added, “There by the grace of God goes I. We’re all going through something, so my heart goes out to him.”

Damage Control?

Adams himself is no stranger to legal trouble. The mayor is currently dealing with federal bribery charges related to alleged campaign finance violations. So maybe this is some kind of solidarity gesture, a “we’re all fighting our demons” type of comment. As of now, Combs is awaiting a federal trial scheduled for May, while Adams continues to insist the key’s revocation wasn’t a solo act. “It was the committee’s decision,” he said, making it sound more like he was following orders than making them.

You’d think a mayor dealing with his own scandals would be extra careful about aligning himself with someone accused of crimes as serious as Combs’. Instead, we get, “My heart goes out to him.” It says a lot about the state of New York City.

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