From Viral Rumors to Pop Culture Noise: How Misinformation Clouds the Legal Proceedings Surrounding Sean Combs

The swirl of misinformation could divert attention away from the actual allegations against

Combs and, in the worst case, impact his trial, as experts have warned.

The massively popular rapper is facing many accusations, which include racketeering as well as

sexual trafficking. former girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura telling jurors on Tuesday that

Sean Combs exposed the woman to "disgusting" group sex sessions.

When allegations were made in court the web of celebrity conspiracy theories circulated

online, amplified through social media algorithms threat to obscure the facts regarding the high-

profile trial of a famous celebrity.

"Nobody believes the earth is flat when they first hear it, but repeated exposure to conspiracy

theories can make them start to 'feel' true," Dan Evon the lead writer of RumorGuard which aids

in disproving viral lies said to AFP.

"In that sense, it is possible that a flood of falsehoods about the Combs trial could sway or

reinforce public opinion," said the lawyer. said.

A song entitled "I Lost Myself at a Diddy Party" and subsequently believed to be the work of

Justin Bieber recently garnered millions of views on various platforms, prompting a flood of

conspiracy theories regarding the connection between the two stars.

Another trending topic online was a fake photo of Combs and sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein

sitting next to US President Donald Trump on a couch with a young woman.

In a separate, unsubstantiated story that was made viral, the FBI confiscated a video showing

Hillary Clinton killing a child during one of Combs's drug-fuelled "freak-off" sex trafficking

trial parties.

"celebrity scandals are as American as baseball and apple pie," A.D. Carson who is head of the

hip-hop department at University of Virginia, told AFP.