Why do so many witnesses of sexual violence remain silent? The P.Diddy affair questions power dynamics and behaviors of omission or support for attackers.
Billionaire hip-hop producer Sean “Diddy” Combs (also known as P.Diddy or Puff Daddy), was indicted for “sex trafficking” and a series of other crimes in September 2024. New complaints have since been filed, with more than one hundred and twenty alleged victims now accusing P.Diddy of sexual violence (physical coercion, threats, abuse of authority, exploitation of incapacity caused by drugs or alcohol, etc.) .
One of the most striking elements of this case is the high number of people who witnessed the alleged crimes. Most of these acts are believed to have occurred at crowded social events and parties since at least 2001.
Combs’ trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025. This case raises important questions about who witnesses sexual violence and how they respond – or stay silent.
Research tells us that many people do nothing when they witness sexual violence (sexual harassment, sexual assault or rape).
People often don’t realize that their inaction can make sexual violence worse.
Why do people often do nothing when they witness sexual violence? We found that there are three main categories: people who enable the violence, people who are complicit in it and those who actively participate in the wrongdoing.
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Those who facilitate violence
Social scientists, including the three of us, have long known that it is typical for people who see or know about sexual violence to respond by ignoring, rationalizing, or minimizing it.
These people, who could be described as facilitators, do not directly participate in the violence. But their silence and passivity contribute to the continuation or aggravation of these.
This way of allowing violence is sometimes due to a power dynamic or the fear of harmful social or professional repercussions on the part of the aggressor. Other people who do nothing may not realize that it is violence, or convince themselves that what they see is not serious – or that it is none of their business.
By not acting to prevent violence, these witnesses commit a fault of omission.
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Those who are complicit in the violence
Other witnesses participate in sexual violence by helping the perpetrator commit it in one way or another. They are directly complicit.
Complicity may involve encouraging the perpetrator to commit sexual violence or concealing evidence of such acts. It can also manifest itself through attempts to silence or shame the victim.
Complicity can take the form of a fraternity member helping his friend get a woman drunk so he can “take advantage of her,” or a teammate persuading a victim not to report sexual violence committed. by a star of the American football team, under the pretext that she might lose her scholarship.
Many are unaware that by doing so, they may be accused of complicity in the crime or less serious offenses that nevertheless involve legal liability.
Certain forms of complicity are not punishable by law, but, from our point of view, even when they are not criminally reprehensible, they represent a failure to contribute to a society that is safe and respectful of others.
Read more: Are there typical profiles of perpetrators of domestic violence?
Those who participate in violence
The most egregious type of non-intervention is committed by people who actively participate in perpetrating sexual violence. This often happens when victims are incapacitated due to alcohol or drugs. Several of the allegations against Combs mention victims who were apparently intoxicated and for whom there were alleged co-perpetrators.
When several people engage in sexual acts with one person who is unconscious due to drugs or alcohol, it is sometimes called gang rape. Most often, co-persecution involves two perpetrators, but sometimes there are more people involved.
Our recent research shows that among Americans who have been victims of sexual violence, 19% reported that at least one of the sexual crimes committed against them involved more than one perpetrator.
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The first step to change things
All of these behaviors actively contribute to sexual violence, protect perpetrators from negative consequences, and discourage victims from seeking help or justice. They ultimately serve to maintain alarming levels of sexual violence.
We know that individuals are much more likely to intervene to help someone who is injured or in a medical emergency than someone who is experiencing sexual violence.
Sexual violence is an emergency in its own right that must be responded to when we witness it. Becoming aware of it is the first step in combating sexual violence.
