"That silence wasn't consent. It was survival": Music executive exposes culture of abuse in wake of Diddy trial

Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, has been in jail since September 2024. The jury selection for his trial has just concluded. Diddy is facing charges of transporting for prostitution, racketeering, and s*x trafficking.

Ty Stiklorius, the American music executive, film producer, and CEO of Friends at Work, opened up about the toxic culture in the music industry. In October 2024, she wrote an op-ed published in The New York Times and highlighted how nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) were used in the music industry to silence them from speaking against misconduct.

She said that women often signed these NDAs in exchange for fundamental rights like fair pay. She revealed shocking details of a dark time in the industry:

'' I know many men and women who've been threatened with the end of their careers that they spoke up. NDA's have been signed. They're signing away their truth in exchange for basic rights like song ownership or fair pay. That silence wasn't consent. It was survival.''

Stiklorius exposes the abusive culture of the music industry in the wake of Diddy's trial

Ty Stiklorius opened up to NPR's Morning Edition. She discussed the music industry's toxic culture and explained how it affects individuals working there. She recounted experiences of what seemed like an interview, but ended up being asked to a restaurant and given a hotel key, implying that s*xual favour was expected in return for a job position.

She also spoke about how these things are common in the industry and how certain powerful men are not held accountable for their actions. She also pointed out how power in the industry is misused and that such incidents are not isolated, and often involve many people and businesses.

Back in 2024, around the time Diddy was arrested, Stiklorius wrote an op-ed in which she shared her personal experience of being in her early 20s and attending a party hosted by Combs on a yacht.

She explained how she was lured into a room by Diddy's colleague and locked in. She had to shout and convince herself that she would be looked for at the party.

After her article, many women from the music industry came out to share similar experiences. Many of them were also forced to sign non-disclosure agreements. Explaining how these NDAs work in such cases, she said:

''These are women in positions of power. I think part of it is we have to talk about NDA's, nondisclosure agreements. I think they play a huge role.''

In the interview with NPR, Stiklorius also highlighted instances when she had spoken against harassment and misconduct, which was met with silent acknowledgments. She then emphasized how the music industry's inaction towards such issues is a grave problem.

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