After decades of socializing and interacting with the biggest celebrities, influential and powerful circles, Sean “Diddy” Combs is now behind bars after being charged with three counts of sex trafficking, organized crime and transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

According to court documents and testimony, Combs orchestrated a sprawling sex trafficking enterprise and earned a menacing reputation for blowing up his opponents’ vehicles and attacking his lovers and associates – and more. But how did he evade justice for so long? A very important strategy for Combs, it seems, was to use his relationships with the rich and famous as a shield.

Combs is a hip-hop figurehead who has infiltrated the fashion world to the point where he was able to convince industry icons such as Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger to lend their voices to his rap album. Last train to ParisThe album’s interludes were a triumph for Combs and demonstrated the influence he had in the industry.

Some people close to Combs deny ever seeing him engage in the egregious activities he is accused of, which his indictment alleges include human trafficking for the purpose of soliciting sex and forcing and threatening victims to participate in elaborate sex performances. Nevertheless, it is plausible that at some point in the past few decades, at least one influential person may have witnessed some of Combs’ alleged misdeeds.

And although some who worked with Combs have tried for years to blacken his name – not one of the the most powerful people whom Combs invited to his infamous parties have come forward. One allegation that may shed additional light on the complicity of Combs’ friends surfaced in former Diddy artist Dawn Richards’ recent lawsuit against him, alleging that Combs assaulted his ex-girlfriend Cassie in front of Grammy winners Usher and Ne-Yo, as well as Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine – none of whom intervened.

As far as the public is concerned, Combs’ use of the public images of his famous friends to dispel rumors that he is a criminal seems to have been successful – and for a long time, if the allegations turn out to be true. Photos of Combs with figures people are likely to trust, or at least express disbelief that they would ever associate with a known sex offender, such as Oprah, Wintour or Justin Bieber – have been a media staple since Combs rose to fame.

Therefore, it might be useful to revisit some of these photos and relationships to examine how many powerful celebrities were at Combs’ disposal to create this human shield.

Ashton Kutcher

The friendship between Ashton Kutcher and Combs has been going on for a long time. In the mid-2000s, the two were so close that they touted themselves as the new Rat Pack, along with actor Jamie Foxx. In a 2019 interview with The Rat Pack magazine Hot In an interview, Kutcher told host Sean Evans that there is “a lot I can’t say” about his friendship with Combs. He may soon be forced to speak out, as the Daily Mail claimed the star was expecting “a subpoena” for Combs’ misconduct.

Anna Wintour

Wintour was photographed several times partying with Diddy. Performing with the rapper – and sending him the coveted Met Gala invitation – contributed significantly to his acceptance in the upper echelons of the fashion world. Their friendship spanned many fashion coverage of the rapper, who has been a regular in the magazine’s photography and features for decades (the most famous of which was probably 1999’s “Puffy Takes Paris”). Combs eventually developed such a complex about his place in the industry that he reportedly told his staff, “When you talk to me, you should imagine you’re talking to Karl Lagerfeld,” one of the staffers told the Daily Beast anonymously in June.

Prince Harry

Harry’s friendship with Combs may well give the impression that his power extends across the world, as the British prince has already been photographed with Diddy.

Jennifer Lopez

When she was with Combs between 1999 and 2001, Lopez was not yet a megastar. She played in Selenaher first major film, in 1997. She was arrested alongside the disgraced mogul after a shooting at a Manhattan nightclub and was later released without charge along with Combs. She hasn’t said a word about the allegations against her ex-boyfriend, although a source claiming to be close to Lopez told the paper that she was making “a film with a big storyline.” Daily Mail after the Cassie video that Lopez would not talk about him because it was “not her story to tell.”

The Kardashians

Members of the influential clan have been frequent guests at Diddy’s outings and parties for years, with some of them photographed arm-in-arm with him as recently as 2019. Whatever one thinks about the way they rose to fame, their inclusion in Combs’ circle has implications.

Oprah

The well-known presenter has been close friends with Combs for years, which further strengthens the protective shield of powerful people.

Justin Bieber

Combs was Bieber’s mentor when he rose to fame at just 15 years old. Although rumors have long circulated online that Bieber was privy to inappropriate things in Diddy’s circles, the pop star has not spoken about his relationship with the former mogul – despite all the allegations that have surfaced over the past year.

Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio was filmed dancing at Combs’ 50th birthday party in 2019 and has been photographed with him as a guest at his parties several times over the years.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton is another powerful person who seemingly left her mark on Diddy by attending his lavish parties over the years. As an abuse victim and advocate for young people, Hilton has remained strangely silent on the allegations against him, although she has posted that she had an “epic time” at his home.

MariahCarey

Carey and Combs have been photographed together on several occasions, as they both rose to fame in the music world around the same time in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She was also a frequent guest at his parties.

Jay Z

Rapper and mogul Jay-Z is another powerful figure known to have maintained a friendship with Diddy, as they both emerged on the hip-hop scene around the same time. They even avoided prison time that same year, 1999. Later, both made entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and merging luxury goods with hip-hop major aspects of their personal brands. Jay has regularly attended charity events and performed on stage with Combs, and there are countless photos showing the two men together over the past 30 years—and yet Jay-Z has never publicly expressed his opinion on his friend’s downfall. Rapper 50 Cent, in his derision of Diddy, has noted that Jay-Z seemed to have abandoned Combs in the face of allegations from his various lawsuits.

The list of names could go on, but as Combs prepares to stand trial for a variety of crimes, his prominent friends have – so far – remained silent on each other.