⚠️⚠️ POTENTIAL SPOILER WARNINGS ⚠️⚠️

#TheReckoning #SeanCombs #DiddyDocumentary

Not for nothing, 50c and Alexandria Stapleton did their thing on this documentary. The Reckoning was neither over-the-top nor sensationalised. It was the right pace of emotionally intelligent factual storytelling about Sean Combs who falls squarely at the rotten end of ego. A spoiled child who was raised in abuse and continued to abuse throughout his life. Whether it was the death of his artists (of which there are many) or close associates – it’s firmly rooted and tied to him.

You couldn’t move without hearing a Combs production in the 90s; and his rise was inspirational and aspirational – but at what cost? He violated too many people and loyalty to a black rising star or shame on the abuse resulted in silence. I knew he was big but how big he actually was, eluded me. Two things made me stop liking him. The first was seeing his arrogance on a couple of the Making The Band series. The second was an interaction with him and his mum. I think it was on the In The Actor’s Studio. It wasn’t what was said, it was more the perforated gaps in the conversation. There was a conversation but a lot was being ommitted.

Perhaps the most chilling part for me was watching him perform Every Breath You Take with Sting knowing that he was integral to the death of two of rap brightest stars at the time. I don’t know why it sent chills but I remember Clive Davies – a next POS who needs a special of his own (don’t think Curtis wasn’t throwing you a bone) –  saying that “you make more money off dead artists”.

As for his family… The mother was abusive in every way. The missing father, probably not much better. I hate blaming parents – especially single parents because everybody is just trying to work with what they’ve got. However, hearing that Sean hit his mother that one time blew my mind I don’t know why (because abusers will abuse) but hitting your parents – to me, is a mad level of behaviour. But he, like Kanye, grew up with missing pieces and gaps that they tried to fill in the most toxic of ways. He’s passed this onto his children and to that I say, FU*K DEM KIDS TOO. They’re as guilty as he is.

As for the jury. Let’s just say there needs to be more training on domestic violence, grooming, coercion and the role fear plays in all of that because the reasoning from the two jurors was shocking. I feel like Sean could do what he did and get away with it because of how that generation is but then trying yo pass that onto younger people – the generation that speak out, that emote was always going to limit his pace.

Finally, Sean was the soundtrack of our youth and and a lot of that music stands to this day; but Sean was and is a skunt. He traded in manipulation, greed and extortion – mental, physical and emotional. I wish his survivors well and truly hope that they get what they’re owed in a place of peace because the fact that many of them are still hurt, scared or angry about what he’s done to them is testament to the depravity of the man.

Tricia xx