Federal criminal charges and civil lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs are the focus of a new podcast series from ABC News, one of the shows on its audio division’s programming slate focused on true crime.
“Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy,” hosted by ABC News legal contributor and attorney Brian Buckmire, will premiere Tuesday, March 25. The podcast will be supported by “20/20” and ABC News’ global newsgathering team, and it’s the first of ABC Audio’s ongoing series of “20/20” true crime shows.
The podcast “will trace how whispers of abuse came to light and led to the stunning federal charges and civil lawsuits that Diddy now faces,” according to ABC News.
The first six episodes of “Bad Rap” will provide background on the allegations against Combs and his claims of innocence. After the initial run ends, the series will pick up with twice-weekly episodes during Combs’ trial with “real-time updates,” according to ABC News. Jury selection for Combs’ trial is set to begin May 5, and the trial itself is slated to begin on May 12.
Earlier this month, federal prosecutors filed a second superseding indictment against Combs in their ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering case against him, highlighting new allegations of abusive treatment and forced labor of his employees. That came after an initial expanded indictment against Combs in January that included two new female victims and accused him of engaging in criminal conduct four years earlier than previously stated. Combs on March 14 pleaded not guilty to the superseding indictment.
“Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy” is one of the anchor shows on ABC Audio’s new podcast slate in collaboration with “20/20,” which it says will provide “always-on true crime content.” The new podcasts will join ABC News’ flagship daily news podcast “Start Here” and “20/20.”
Launching Monday (March 17) is “20/20: The After Show,” a weekly show hosted by “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts. It’s a companion podcast to the TV newsmagazine, which airs Friday on ABC. In “20/20: The After Show,” listeners can hear the story behind each week’s episode and access exclusive bonus material.
ABC Audio’s “The Crime Scene Weekly,” hosted by Brad Mielke, host and managing editor of “Start Here,” will focus on buzzy topics in the true crime space each week. Premiering Thursday, March 20, “Crime Scene Weekly” will feature ABC News correspondents alongside a roster of analysts and experts.
Later this spring, ABC Audio will release narrative podcast “What Happened to Holly Bobo?” hosted by Eva Pilgrim, co-anchor of “GMA3: What You Need to Know.” As reported on by “20/20,” Holly Bobo went missing in 2011 and sparked the largest murder investigation in Tennessee history after the young nursing student was kidnapped from her home.
Also available today, ABC Audio is launching a new “20/20 True Crime” channel on Apple Podcasts.
“ABC Audio has a proven track record of creating gripping and award-winning true crime podcasts, and we’re excited to build on that success in partnership with ‘20/20’ to give listeners more of what they want,” said Liz Alesse, VP of ABC Audio. “Our expanded slate of new releases underscores our commitment to delivering powerful, must-listen stories that keep audiences engaged and informed.”