A night for mental health awareness takes a brief detour
During her speech at the second annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit, Selena Gomez, 32, unintentionally mentioned rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, prompting laughter from the crowd and a quick apology from the actress and singer.
Gomez was introducing a representative from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services (DHMS) when she mistakenly said “Diddy,” referencing the embattled music mogul currently facing serious legal issues.
The gala, held at Nya Studios in Los Angeles, California, raises funds for youth mental health services. While discussing the suicide prevention work DHMS does with teens, Gomez made the mix-up. “I really am sorry,” she told the audience after the crowd reacted with laughter, gracefully smiling through the brief mishap.
Ongoing legal troubles for Sean “Diddy” Combs
Combs, who was arrested in September on charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, continues to plead not guilty. Currently in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, he awaits a trial scheduled for May.
The accusations have led to numerous lawsuits from plaintiffs alleging sexual assault, including a recent claim from a woman who says Combs assaulted her when she was 13.
In a statement, Combs’s legal team has vehemently denied the allegations, calling him “an innocent man with nothing to hide” and expressing confidence that he will be cleared of all charges.