#WeNeedToTalk: The People Who Say Nothing

And how we always have a choice.

Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash

We protect predators. Especially if they’re powerful, charming, rich, or “successful.” Especially if they’re men. We as a society always choose to protect predators.

And I’m just asking: Why?
Why are so many people willing to turn a blind eye to abuse, manipulation, and violence just to protect someone’s image, brand, church, or paycheck?

Is money really worth more than your integrity?
Is your silence worth more than someone’s lifelong trauma?

I’ve been following the Diddy trial, reading about Michael Tait, and seeing how so many people accused them of sexual misconduct and verbal abuse. Some said this behavior went on for years. And what’s worse? Many people around them allegedly knew—and did nothing.

It angers me that so many people knew and said nothing. The same story we’ve heard before with Harvey Weinstein. Bill Cosby. R. Kelly. Kevin Spacey. DONALD. FREAKING. TRUMP.

How many people had to suffer silently while these men went on living their lives, racking up awards, standing on stages, and being praised as “icons”? Meanwhile, the people they hurt were left carrying invisible wounds — some for decades — because too many folks in the room refused to say, “Enough.”

And you know what’s worse than the act itself sometimes? The complicity.
The people who knew — and still chose to do nothing.

It’s not a flex to say, “Oh yeah, everyone knew that was happening.”

But here’s the thing that really gets me: when Christians, of all people, enable this.
When churches protect abusers. When “faith leaders” ignore victims or make them feel like they’re the problem. When people quote scripture while covering up harm.
When reputation becomes more important than being Christ-like, you lose the privilege of calling yourself a follower of Jesus.

If you’re going to call yourself a follower of Jesus, follow him. He didn’t coddle the powerful. He confronted them. He didn’t shield abusers. He defended the abused.

So what are we doing?

Because here’s the truth: There will always be villains. There will always be people who choose to harm, who choose power over people, who choose silence over justice. But that doesn’t mean we join them. That doesn’t mean we become them. We don’t have to inherit their legacy.

We get to choose a different story. We get to fight back together and remind the world that integrity still matters, truth still matters, and that protecting the vulnerable will always matter more than protecting someone’s platform.

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