Wendy Williams breaks silence on Diddy sex trafficking investigation - years after she was criticized for speaking out against the disgraced rapper

Wendy Williams has spoken out in the wake of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' arrest, claiming it was 'about time' the disgraced rapper was investigated. 

Heralded for decades as rap royalty, Combs is currently awaiting trial at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. 

Williams, 60, had always been openly critical of the disgraced music mogul, 54, throughout her career, so was unsurprisingly relieved to learn that he is being investigated. 

'What is really weird is that I have been told by so many people "Wendy you called it,"' she told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'Including some people from my family who have said the same.'

The popular TV host, who said she was 'doing good' in the wake of her aphasia diagnosis and health concerns, said she was horrified at the video of Combs abusing his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel lobby.

'You know how I feel about that? It is about time,' she said. 'To see this video on TV of [Cassie] getting pummeled … it was just horrific. 

'But now you have to think, how many more times? How many people? How many more women? It’s just so horrible.' 

The Wendy Williams Show aired its final episode in June 2022 after 13 years – without Williams herself making an appearance.  

She previously withdrew from the show in 2021 and embarked on what was initially supposed to be a temporary leave of absence to cope with health issues.

Some fans have since claimed that had Williams still been on air, she would have highlighted the fact she had warned of his alleged behavior for years.

One fan wrote: 'I truly miss Auntie Wendy Williams on days like today. No one did hot topics like she did. No one. I can almost hear her going off on Puffy (Diddy) and telling us she told us so. 

'Because she's always known and she tried to tell us. Many times. I hope she's doing better.'

'Don't forget that Wendy Williams told us exactly who Sean Combs was back in 1998. 26 years ago!,' read another comment.

Over the weekend an awkward interview with Diddy from a 2017 appearance on The Wendy Williams Show resurfaced.

The clip showed the controversial rapper talking to Williams about her son Kevin Hunt Jr., who was 16 at the time.

'And let me tell you something, as the mother of a now 16-year-old - ' Williams said before Diddy interrupted: 'Mhm, who I met backstage, he's a great young man.' 

Williams swiftly thanked him for the compliment before appearing to space out and stutter her words as Diddy stared at her.

Commenters quickly flocked to the old clip and noted how cagey Williams was when Diddy mentioned her son, now 24. 

'That was a threat, he’s saying play nice,' one wrote. 

Another said: 'The way that she hesitated, you know that she knew about him!' 

'The way she wanted to say “you stay away from my son”,' another added.

Combs pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was denied bail as he awaits trial in his federal sex trafficking case.

The music mogul has been accused him of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes; inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes dayslong sexual performances dubbed 'Freak Offs.'

The indictment against him also alleged that he coerced and abused women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line.

It referred obliquely to an attack on his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, that was captured on video and sent shockwaves upon its release in May.

Combs insists that he is innocent and plans to fight the legal case, according to his attorney Marc Agnifilo.

He also claimed Combs strongly believes this is a 'racially motivated prosecution' and that he is being targeted because he is a 'successful Black man.'

This comes after his attorney previously told the outlet that Combs 'can't wait' to testify in court.

Agnifilo, a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, told TMZ that Combs plans to 'fight this case not just for himself, but for others in a similar position,' who are also facing government persecution.

His attorney also said that Combs has his family on his mind and wants to prove to them that he is 'the same man they've always known.'

Combs has been a major figure in the hip hop industry for the past three decades, having served as a producer for artists such as Usher and Notorious B.I.G.