Sean “Diddy” Combs appears hopeful after being found guilty on two out of five charges, avoiding a life sentence.
Moments after the verdict, Combs knelt and prayed while his family cheered and his defense attorneys hugged, as reported by NBC News.
The seven-week New York trial featured testimony from his ex Cassie Ventura, Kid Cudi, former assistants, sex workers, and investigators.
On June 24, the defense chose not to call any witnesses, instead submitting evidence and clarifying points raised by the prosecution. Combs addressed Judge Arun Subramanian, saying, “I’m doing great, your honor,” and “I wanted to tell you thank you, you’re doing an excellent job.”
Key allegations involved Ventura’s claims that Combs coerced her into “freak offs” with sex workers, which she said happened “hundreds” of times during their decade-long relationship.
She testified he filmed the encounters and used the videos as blackmail: “He would mention them when he was upset about something… It’s horrible and disgusting. No one should do that to anyone.”
Text messages showed Combs physically assaulted Ventura in 2016. In one 2017 message, she wrote:
“I give you love, and as soon as I turn my head for a second and you get fucked up, you drag me down the hall by my hair. I’m 30 years old. This isn’t play anymore.”
After video of the assault was released in May 2024, Combs publicly apologized, saying: “I was f–ked up. I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”
