“Diageo Issues Dire Warning: Keep Diddy out of Tequila Ads Amid Rape Allegations

Diageo, the British alcohol producer of Ciroc Vodka and numerous other popular spirits, has made headlines recently with its renewed effort to keep Diddy, also known as Sean Combs, from appearing in any of its tequila advertising. This comes amid unearthed claims of rape against the hip-hop mogul – claims which he has continuously denied – first being brought to light by a former employee. The former employee, named Melissa Evans, worked with Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment and filed a lawsuit against the mogul in 2006. According to the New York Daily News, Evans claims that Combs raped her after a night of partying with friends while staying in Muresk, Australia back in 2000. Although the case was ultimately settled out of court, Diageo decided to take cautious steps to keep the star’s image from being associated with their tequila line. As Diageo is one of the leading industry figures for tequila, this renewed effort to keep Combs away from their advertising is a major move. Its decision comes as more potential victims come forward with stories of rape and sexual assault allegedly from the rapper, reflecting a growing societal awareness of the prevalence of such occurrences. The fact that such an influential corporation is taking concrete steps to distance itself from someone accused of rape is a major step forward for the movement. This is a testament to the growing awareness of sexual misconduct accusations, and it is likely to spur many other companies in the entertainment industry to follow suit. By making this stand, Diageo is sending a strong message that it will not condone or associate itself with those accused of serious crimes, regardless of their fame or influence.