Diddy, Jonathan Majors and the Most Controversial Black Entertainment Messes of 2024

At times 2024 felt like it was actually five years crammed into the timeframe of one year. However, it really was only 12 months that passed. Katt Williams’ “Club Shay Shay” interview, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ downfall, the Paris Olympics and Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” all happened in 2024.

Politics took up a big amount of energy this year, but there was still plenty of scandalous entertainment making headlines. Before we move on to what’s likely to be an even crazier 2025, let’s take some time to reflect on the most controversial, surprising stories of 2024.

As sexual assault lawsuits against the music mogul became a near weekly occurrence, he was hit with another shocking development when federal agents raided his homes in Miami and Los Angeles. This led to news of a federal investigation and eventually an indictment. Combs was arrested on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy and racketeering in September, and has remained in jail since, with bail denied several times.

Despite the cultural impact of “Cowboy Carter” and massive success of “A Bar Song (Tipsy),“ country music still wasn’t ready to let Black stars win major awards. Beyonce wasn’t nominated by the CMAs, while Shaboozey was snubbed at the show. It sent a very loud message about who is allowed to thrive in the genre.

After being found guilty on two misdemeanor assault charges, the former Marvel actor avoided jail time and was sentenced to “enroll in a domestic violence treatment program for one year and continue therapy.”

Though he spent most of the year making headlines for his high profile romance with Meagan Good, his career hasn’t recovered, as he still hasn’t booked another major role since his legal troubles began.

Jordan Chiles more than proved she’s “That Girl” in the Paris Olympics. However, the judges just couldn’t let her enjoy her individual success. Shortly after she won bronze in the floor exercise, another country complained about her score, which led to judges re-evaluating the timing of Chiles and Team USA’s appeal. She was eventually stripped of her bronze, with fans crying foul and criticizing gymnastics’ governing body.

After taking home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, “American Fiction” writer/director (and former The Root writer) Cord Jefferson encouraged Hollywood to take a chance on smaller budget films instead of constantly making $200 million movies. Later in the press conference, he took things further, explaining, “There is an appetite for things that are different and a story with Black characters that’s going to appeal to a lot of people.”

He elaborated that we can have Black stories don’t “need to take place on a plantation, they don’t need to take place in the projects. It doesn’t need to have drug dealers in it and doesn’t need to have gang members in it.” His comments were met with controversy, because we’re not allowed to advocate for ourselves and our community when the whole world is watching.

Actress/singer Kelly Rowland made headlines when she wasn’t taking nonsense from a security guard at the Cannes Film Festival who allegedly disrespected her while trying to move her along the red carpet. Turns out, this same security guard had run ins with other people of color on the red carpet, so Rowland knew exactly what she was dealing with when she didn’t back down.

Another rapper found himself in legal hot water in October when Lil Durk was arrested in a murder-for-hire plot. In November, charges were added, including, “one count of conspiracy, one count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.”

Sadly, we’re used to rappers landing in legal trouble, but this was a whole new level we weren’t expecting.

Kanye West has reached a place in his career where he’s become more well-known for tabloid headlines and unorthodox behavior than music. In 2024, he was the subject of multiple lawsuits, divorce rumors and fresh claims of antisemitism. At this point, there are young hip-hop fans who don’t know he used to be a great artist. He’s now just a sad joke.

In her Prime Video documentary, “Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words,” the rapper revealed that she lied to Gayle King about her sexual relationship with rapper Tory Lanez. This led to questions about why King even inquired about their history, and why Megan was telling the truth now. It pointed to a pattern of women needing to be perfect to be taken seriously as victims of a crime. Ot was a small slip up in an otherwise solid year for Thee Stallion.

The bombshell docuseries revealed details about the alleged toxic workplace at Nickelodeon during Dan Schneider’s tenure. It led to a bigger conversation about the treatment of child stars, especially young Black performers, on film and TV sets. Former child stars like Keke Palmer, Kenan Thompson and Jaleel White weighed in on the controversy, discussing their own shocking experiences.

The year ended with one more shocking bombshell, as rapper/entrepreneur Jay-Z was named alongside Diddy in a sexual assault lawsuit alleging that the two men raped a 13-year-old in 2000. It’s sent shockwaves through the industry, with many wondering if Jay is headed for a downfall similar to Diddy’s.