This week, news broke that Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested by the FBI as part of a human trafficking investigation. The charges are serious, and there’s no argument: Diddy is being held accountable for actions that demand justice. But while no one is defending his actions, it brings up a larger question: Why aren’t women like Cardi B held to the same standard of accountability?
Let’s rewind to 2019, when Cardi B publicly admitted to drugging and robbing men using sex as bait. She went on social media, boldly declaring, “You wanna Fuck me? Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s go to this hotel, and I drugged niggas up, and I robbed them. That’s what I used to do.” In August 2024, she didn’t apologize—instead, she doubled down, saying during an X Space, “I don’t feel bad for no niggas, and I’ll do it the fuck again.”
Hell, this woman has even been invited to the White House. Despite openly admitting to drugging and robbing men, Cardi B continues to enjoy the privileges of fame, including being welcomed into the highest offices in the country. Can you imagine a man with similar confessions getting the same treatment? It’s mind-boggling that someone with her public track record not only escapes accountability but is also embraced by political figures. What does that say about the standards we hold for public figures and our justice system?
Cardi B walks free… No charges. No investigation. No consequences.
Why is that?
The Double Standard Men Face in Justice
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the justice system treats men and women differently, and men are often the victims of this bias. When men commit crimes, they’re rightfully prosecuted and often face heavy sentences, as we’re seeing now with Sean “Diddy” Combs. Yet when a woman like Cardi B openly admits to predatory behavior, the response is shockingly different. Society shrugs it off, the legal system remains silent, and her fans cheer her on.
This isn’t just about Cardi B. The truth is, the system consistently favors women, particularly when it comes to criminal and civil matters. We see this double standard play out in cases like Cardi B’s, but we also see it in family courts, especially in divorce.
Divorce: The Other Arena Where Men Lose
Let’s draw the parallel. In divorce cases, men are frequently on the losing side. When marriages fall apart, men are often stripped of their assets, saddled with alimony, and many times, denied fair custody of their children. The divorce courts have long had a reputation for siding with women, painting them as the default victims, while men are cast as the villains, regardless of the circumstances.
A 2020 study by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that 79% of custodial parents are mothers, leaving fathers to fight an uphill battle for fair custody arrangements. And when it comes to alimony, women receive it in 97% of cases, further solidifying the bias against men in family court. Much like in the criminal justice system, the law bends in favor of women.
In cases like Cardi B’s, we see a similar dynamic at play. A woman confesses to drugging and robbing men—actions that would immediately result in serious charges if the genders were reversed. But when a woman admits to being the perpetrator? Nothing happens. The system looks the other way.
The Stats Don’t Lie: Men Face Bias in the Legal System
The bias against men isn’t just a perception—it’s a fact. A 2022 U.S. Sentencing Commission report showed that female offenders receive 23% shorter sentences than male offenders for the same crimes. That’s not just an anomaly; it’s a reflection of a broader cultural and legal bias that sees women as less culpable for their actions.
In family court, the bias is equally clear. Men are often forced to pay alimony, even if their former spouse is capable of working. Fathers are frequently denied equal access to their children, even when they’re fit and willing to be involved. Men often walk out of divorce proceedings financially devastated, not to mention emotionally crushed by the court’s decision to limit their relationship with their children.
Now, consider this alongside the Cardi B case. She admits to drugging and robbing men—clearly illegal behavior. But the system does nothing. There’s no investigation, no charges. Why? Because she’s a woman? Because she’s famous?
The Untouchable Cardi B: Gendered Justice at Its Worst
Cardi B’s admissions highlight a glaring flaw in the justice system: women, especially high-profile ones, are treated with kid gloves. If a male celebrity had admitted to drugging and robbing women, the headlines would have been relentless, and the legal system would have taken swift action. But when it’s Cardi B, there’s a deafening silence from the law.
She not only admits to doing it, but brags that she will do it again!
Cardi B Again Defending Drugging and Robbing Men…. Imagine if this was the other way around…
— DadsAgainsttheMachine (@DadvsMachine) September 18, 2024
Why Cardi B Walks Free: Exposing the Justice System’s Hypocrisy Against Menhttps://t.co/TroIvc0Mq7 pic.twitter.com/cjQRTRqmQw
Why hasn’t the FBI investigated her like they have Diddy? Why do we let female offenders off the hook, even when they confess to their crimes in public? Is the system only tough on men?
These double standards exist across the board. Men like Diddy and R. Kelly are held accountable for their crimes—rightfully so—but Cardi B walks free. Just like in divorce cases, where men often lose custody of their children or face unjust financial burdens, the system turns a blind eye to women’s wrongdoing.
The Broken System
The fact that Diddy is sitting in an FBI holding cell, while Cardi B continues to tour the world, sell records, and rake in millions, should make everyone question the fairness of our justice system. The system is broken. Men are consistently held to a higher standard while women, particularly powerful ones, can seemingly commit crimes with impunity.
Whether it’s family court or criminal justice, men are disproportionately the victims of a gendered system that favors women. From divorce settlements that strip men of their financial security to criminal cases like Cardi B’s that go ignored, the bias is undeniable.
The question we should all be asking is: when will the system start treating everyone equally? When will women like Cardi B face the same legal scrutiny as men like Diddy?
Until we address these systemic double standards, men will continue to be the forgotten victims, whether it’s in divorce court or the court of public opinion.
