Akon says he doesn’t have "any thoughts" on the specifics of Diddy’s case and his legal team’s defense strategy. He does, however, believe that a larger "spiritual shift" is afoot in the industry.
Speaking with a TMZ-aligned paparazzo in Los Angeles, Akon, who’s recently been teasing his upcoming "Akon’s Beautiful Day" single, was asked about the case, which has generated extensive headlines and attention in recent weeks. Specifically, comments made by an attorney for Diddy arguing that the Bad Boy Records founder is being targeted by the government were mentioned.
"Well, I mean, that’s a Diddy issue," Akon said in response. "I don’t have any thoughts on it. Stuff like that, you can’t really get involved. I think that the business in itself is taking a shift. If you look at it from a spiritual perspective, music hasn’t been the greatest role model for our youth, if you look at it these days."
Akon continued, "So I just think it’s a spiritual shift that’s happening and we just gotta sit back and relax and watch, mind our own business. Whatever people are doing on their personal time is something they have to deal with on their own."
Toward the end of the clip, Akon reiterated his larger stance with a succinct suggestion to simply "sit back and let it play out." See more above.
An unsealed indictment in September saw Diddy being charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy; one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and one count of transportation for purposes of prostitution. Both the racketeering and trafficking charges carry possible maximum sentences of life behind bars. Diddy has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody as of this writing.
"We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office," Marc Agnifilo, an attorney for Diddy, said shortly after his client’s arrest in New York last month.
According to Agnifilo, Diddy is "an innocent man with nothing to hide."