[Photo: Gilbert Flores / Getty Images]
As headlines roll in about Jay-Z and his 13-year-old accuser, memories of the fall of R. Kelly and Bill Cosby flood in. These are Black entertainment figures whose sordid pasts have come back to haunt not only them but also those of us who once loved the music and shows that shaped our childhood. Some speculate that the accusations against Diddy and Jay-Z are attacks on wealthy Black men, but why are perverse sexual acts being used as the accusations that are meant to take down our beloved entertainers? Radio show hosts discuss the realization that, while we may love their music and talent, we do not truly know the characters of the men and women we put on pedestals.
There are some things a person should never be accused of. Witch hunts are real, and defamatory claims have always been made against the wealthy, but there is something to be said about how accusations of pedophilia and crimes against women are the claims that often lead to the demise of those in the music industry. In a world where women are sexualized and brutalized through music, pedophilia runs rampant in our communities, with families hiding transgressions behind whispers and prayer. Those with money use its power as a mask to commit vulgar acts. It will be interesting to see what comes of this. Will Jay-Z lose deals with major companies if he settles for an undisclosed amount of money, or will other victims step forward, seeking retribution rather than financial compensation?
Some suggest that Jay-Z and Diddy only had business dealings, a statement that seems more like a PR stunt than a fact. While many remember the closeness of the two during the ’90s boom of hip-hop, it’s time for the eradication of pedophilia from our community — and it may cost us many icons.
