The alcohol company Diageo has made a renewed effort to distance itself from the musician and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs, citing problematic claims of rape that have surfaced in the past. The company issued a statement on Monday that it was in opposition to “any abuse of power or violence against women.”
Diageo, who owns the liquor brands Ciroc and DeLeon Tequila, claims that they are taking a stand against anyone who perpetuates gender-based violence and want to show their “unwavering commitment” to the women’s rights movement. As a result, the company has said that they are suspending any plans Diddy had in partnering with tequila brand DeLeon for both advertising and product collaborations.
The controversy stems from claims that the rapper Elliot Wilson accused Diddy of assaulting and raping them back in 1995. The allegations were dismissed in 1995 after a police investigation concluded that there was not enough evidence to bring exclusive charges. Wilson has since come forward and claimed that the two incidents still did occur and have caused them a great deal of emotional distress.
Diageo had been working with Diddy on an expansion to rebrand the DeLeon tequila line but are now “putting a stop” to their plans until further evaluation and discussion. It is a move that not only reiterates the company’s commitment to the women’s rights movement but demonstrates their commitment to creating a safe and fair working environment for everyone in their organization. Diageo is also calling on the industry to do better in addressing gender-based violence so that it does not continue to be accepted or ignored.