Seven years after the #MeToo movement swept the United States and then much of the globe, some of the movement’s biggest villains—Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby—have seen their criminal convictions overturned. Others have been slowly making their way back into the public realm. Still others have weathered even very serious accusations by denying claims and settling out of court. For a while, it seemed like the rapper and music mogul Diddy was in that last camp: He was accused of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and a series of other crimes, but denied all of the accusations. He also settled with one accuser, the singer Cassie Ventura (who goes by Cassie and is Diddy’s ex-girlfriend), and had her agree to silence in exchange for a settlement payment.
But then, this month, a video of Diddy attacking Cassie in a hotel in 2016 was published by CNN. Diddy apologized—an abrupt change of heart after vociferous denials that he had ever hurt women, plus payoffs and a defense that those accusing him were essentially greed-driven gold diggers and opportunistic liars. He said he is disgusted by his own behavior and is getting help. This week, Rolling Stone published a damning investigation that reveals Diddy’s patterns of abuse, which stretch back decades. What will come of it remains unclear.
AdvertisementThe #MeToo movement never promised to solve the problems of sexual violence and harassment, nor the problem of powerful men getting away with everything from sexist exploitation to serious crimes against women. It was merely a space—an opening in time—in which women could speak up. And the chorus of voices that poured fourth was so deafening that it was impossible to deny that a problem at least existed. There was a cultural shift, and then an inevitable backlash. There were court cases and victories, and now, years later, some walk-backs. There have been civil suits and settlements, denials paired with payouts. The fantasy that every bad man would get his due, with the violent ones in jail and the manipulative ones made personae non grata, has not played out.
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AdvertisementBut if we conceive of justice as women getting at least some hearing of their claims (however........