Lately, some big names have been making headlines for some pretty serious allegations. Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs are both facing multiple charges tied to sex trafficking. Forbes’ Kim Elsesser breaks down the allegations and common myths about sex trafficking in a article that’s worth a read. Elsesser, K. (2024, November 1). What Is—and Isn’t—Sex Trafficking? Insights From The Combs And Jeffries Allegations. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2024/11/01/what-is-and-isnt-sex-trafficking-insights-from-the-combs-and-jeffries-allegations/ Copy
Big Names in Hot Water
Ex-CEO Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and company recruiter James Jacobson face federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Between 2008 and 2015, they allegedly lured young men—some as young as 19—with false modeling opportunities. Prosecutors say victims were coerced into sexual acts and subjected to invasive treatment at events in the U.S. and abroad. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch and Two Other Individuals Charged with Sex Trafficking and Interstate Prostitution. (2024, October 22). Justice.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-ceo-abercrombie-fitch-and-two-other-individuals-charged-sex-trafficking-and Copy
Similarly, music mogul Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, has been charged with racketeering and sex trafficking. Authorities allege he used his business empire to exploit women through high-profile parties he called “Freak offs,” relying on employees to orchestrate logistics and cover up his abuses. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. (2024, September 17). Sean Combs Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Sex Trafficking And Other Federal Offenses. Justice.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/sean-combs-charged-manhattan-federal-court-sex-trafficking-and-other-federal-offenses Copy
Elsesser goes on to highlight some common myths or misconceptions regarding sex trafficking. Here are a few:
- “Myth: Sex trafficking must involve transporting victims across borders”
The term ‘trafficking’ is often misleading, causing one to think that transporting or crossing state lines is a requirement for the term to apply. While it can be a part, it is not a requirement. Legally, according to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000: H.R.1248 - 106th congress (1999-2000): Violence against women act of 2000 | congress.gov | library of Congress. (n.d.). https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/1248 Copy
Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age.
Basically – no movement of people is required. If someone uses force, manipulation, or deception to gain a sexual favor… that’s sex trafficking. And if that victim is under 18, those criteria aren’t needed; by definition, the involvement of minors automatically implies sex trafficking.
- “Myth: Victims must be held physically captive”
While pop culture leads us to believe that sex trafficking victims always look like the scenes from Taken, this is not always or often the case. The legal definition of sex trafficking allows for a wider understanding of coercion that goes beyond physical force, though it certainly includes that. In fact, the National Human Trafficking Hotline lists as a myth that sex trafficking is often or always violent, stating, “By far the most pervasive myth about human trafficking is that it always – or often – involves kidnapping or otherwise physically forcing someone into a situation. In reality, most human traffickers use psychological means such as tricking, defrauding, manipulating or threatening victims into providing commercial sex or exploitative labor.” National Human Trafficking Hotline. (2023). Myths & Facts | National Human Trafficking Hotline. Humantraffickinghotline.org. https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/human-trafficking/myths-facts Copy
In both Jeffries and Combs’ cases, the allegations assert psychological manipulation or coercion of the victims; in Jeffries’ case, there was allegedly physical force applied to the victims. Elsesser, K. (2024, November 1). What Is—and Isn’t—Sex Trafficking? Insights From The Combs And Jeffries Allegations. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2024/11/01/what-is-and-isnt-sex-trafficking-insights-from-the-combs-and-jeffries-allegations/ Copy Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch and Two Other Individuals Charged with Sex Trafficking and Interstate Prostitution. (2024, October 22). Justice.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-ceo-abercrombie-fitch-and-two-other-individuals-charged-sex-trafficking-and Copy
- “Myth: Trafficking is not possible if there is consent”
The author discusses how the defense will likely argue that the victims consented to the acts in the legal cases of Jeffries and Combs. However, it is important to understand that trafficking happens in the context of a victim who is vulnerable due to financial, career, and/or safety factors. Allegations against Combs suggest victims felt they couldn’t refuse his demands without risking their careers or facing abuse. Similarly, Jeffries’s indictment claims aspiring models feared career harm by not complying with requests. In the case of minors, the issue of consent is even more clear: minors are not able to legally consent to commercial sex acts. H.R.1248 - 106th congress (1999-2000): Violence against women act of 2000 | congress.gov | library of Congress. (n.d.). https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/1248 Copy
Where Sex Trafficking and Porn Overlap
While Elsessor talks about consent in the context of sex trafficking, this topic of consent is one we are familiar with at Fight. You may have heard that the pornography industry’s abuses can be dismissed due to its supposed “consensual” nature. However, in industries like adult entertainment, power imbalances and coercive environments make it tough for performers to truly say “no.”
Take one performer’s story: she agreed to certain acts on set but ended up enduring brutal physical harm she didn’t anticipate or sign up for. Even though she initially “consented,” she couldn’t revoke that consent once the situation became unbearable—especially with the threat of not getting paid or hurting her reputation. Fight. (2023, June 17). Why Consent Can’t Always Be Guaranteed in Porn. Fight the New Drug. https://fightthenewdrug.org/why-consent-cant-always-be-guaranteed-in-porn/ Copy This is not the only example of the porn industry overlooking consent. There are countless stories of sexually explicit content uploaded to porn sites without the consent of the individuals shown. Mohan, M. (2020). ‘I was raped at 14, and the video ended up on a porn site’. BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51391981 Copy
This dynamic isn’t far off from the allegations against Sean Combs and Michael Jeffries. In both cases, victims felt trapped, unable to refuse demands because of fears tied to their safety, careers, or financial stability. It highlights a key issue: consent isn’t valid if it’s forced or if saying “no” feels impossible.
What can we do?
These cases highlight the need to dismantle the systems that allow sex trafficking to persist—whether in high-profile cases involving powerful figures or within industries like adult entertainment. Learn more about how porn and sex trafficking overlap here.
For those affected by sex trafficking or seeking to help, resources like the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733) offer confidential support 24/7. Organizations like Polaris provide additional tools for education and advocacy against human trafficking.
Understanding the nuances of consent, coercion, and exploitation is crucial in identifying and supporting victims. Awareness and action are key to ending these cycles of exploitation. Let’s work together to create a world where no one is trapped by fear, coercion, or abuse.
