Confronting The Darkness of Sean Combs and Terry Richardson

You’ve no doubt heard about the darkness of Sean Combs, dramatically exposed with his recent arrest on a multitude of charges. But you might not be as familiar with the case of celebrity photographer Terry Richardson, who has been accused of grooming and sexualizing his subjects—many of whom were famous, like Miley Cyrus. Richardson directed her infamous Wrecking Ball video when she was just 20, swinging naked on a giant wrecking ball. The late Sinéad O’Connor openly criticized the director and the entire recording industry, stating they had, in essence, prostituted Miley and other young women like her.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/10/14/diddy-party-lawsuits-minor-rape-assault-tony-buzbee/75672777007/

https://www.thecut.com/2023/11/terry-richardson-allegations-sexual-assault.html

These two figures, and the culture they represent, create shiny music and images that mask a dark world—one that seeks to draw all that is good and pure into its shadow. Prostituted, as Sinéad O’Connor suggested, is an apt word for the mass sexualization infecting not only our children but all of us.

From the CDC: “In 2021, the number of reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reached an all-time high. In 2022, the number of reported syphilis cases increased 80% over the previous five years. The number of reported congenital syphilis cases increased 937% over the past decade. The U.S. STD epidemic worsened again in 2023.”

Does this hypersexualization make us happier? Whether it’s causal or coincidental, at the same time STDs are skyrocketing, depression, suicide, and mental health issues have reached historic levels. And who has been impacted the most? Arguably, it’s the same young girls who look up to musicians like Miley Cyrus.

From the CDC again: “Among girls, 30 percent said they seriously considered attempting suicide—double the rate among boys and up almost 60 percent from a decade ago. Almost 20 percent of girls reported experiencing rape or other sexual violence in the previous year, also an increase over previous years.”

Last week, I spoke to a group of young professionals, most of whom are fathers. I was blunt: “When you give your child a phone, you’re handing them access to the worst pornography, the constant objectifying of women, and opening the door to a world where they’ll feel inadequate, bullied, and constantly falling short of impossible standards—unless they allow themselves to become predators or victims or worse.”

Strong words. But am I wrong? I’ve probably understated the problem.

We are facing a darkness. Will we allow it to continue to drain the life from the young and the living, or will we reverse course, steady our resolve, and fight every day for goodness, for light, for our families, and for our children?

I challenge you to join me. Begin by having a conversation in your own home. What can you do to make your four walls a refuge for your family and friends from what one can only call Mordor rising.