Sean John Combs, better known by his pseudonyms “P. Diddy” or “Puff Daddy”, is an American rapper, music producer and entrepreneur. Now 55 years old, Combs became one of the most successful musicians in the world in the 1990s with songs such as I’ll Be Missing You and Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down.
In 2006, Time magazine even included him in its list of the 100 most influential people of the year, and in 2008 he became the first male rapper to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Around two years ago, however, serious allegations against P. Diddy began to surface: of sex trafficking, organised criminality and sexual offences. We reported at the time on the scandal surrounding the American rapper. After a trial lasting several months, P. Diddy has now been found guilty on two of the five counts against him.
The allegations against Diddy
In November 2023, Combs’ ex-partner, R&B singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, brought the first civil action against the rapper. The singer, who had been associated with the musician from 2007 to 2018, accused him of physically abusing, sexually abusing and raping her at this time. As well as this, he was said to have forced her to have sex with male prostitutes, so he could film them in the act and later blackmail her with the footage.
More allegations were to follow shortly afterwards. A student from Syracuse University accused Combs of drugging and raping her in 1991. Another woman accused him of sexually abusing her, also in the early 1990s. As a result, Combs stepped down from his position as CEO of television channel Revolt. The planned reality show “Diddy+7”, meant to offer insights into his family life, was cancelled.
In December 2023, it was alleged that, with the help of two accomplices, Combs had drugged and raped a 17-year-old woman in 2003. In February 2024, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones also brought a claim for sexual harassment.
Shortly afterwards, news channel CNN published CCTV footage dating back to 2016. This showed Combs knocking his then-partner Cassie to the floor in a hotel corridor, striking and kicking her, then finally dragging her into his hotel room. Combs only admitted doing this, and expressed regret for his behaviour, after the material had been published.
A short while afterwards, former model Crystal McKinney and former fashion student April Lampros brought more actions against him. These, too, accused Combs of sexual abuse, with Lampros even said to have been trapped in an aggressive, obsessive and abusive relationship with Diddy for many years.
In total, more than 3,000 people, including both men and women, have made allegations against Combs. Of these, 120 people, including 25 minors, have brought actions for rape, sexual duress and sexual exploitation. (The action brought by Austrian television presenter Kathi Steininger, by contrast, was dismissed, since the supposed incident took place outside the USA.)
Finally, on 16 September 2024, Combs was arrested. Amongst other things, the State Prosecutor accused Combs of sex trafficking, organised introduction for prostitution, threats, organised criminality and other offences.
Sean “Diddy” Combs found partially guilty
Combs, who has been in custody since September 2024, had disputed all the allegations, entering a plea of “Not guilty”. Despite this, the rapper was eventually found guilty on two out of five counts on 2 July 2025.
After deliberating for hours, the twelve jurors, who included eight men and four women, announced their verdict: Combs was guilty on the two weakest counts – those of transporting people for prostitution. However, he was found not guilty of the most serious allegations, such as sex trafficking, blackmail and organised criminality. As a result, Combs avoids a life-long prison sentence.
According to the US media, Diddy reacted with composure in the courtroom: on hearing the verdict, he smiled and clapped his hands, shook the hand of one of his lawyers, and quietly thanked the jury.
Although the most serious allegations are now off the table and the musician no longer faces a life-long jail sentence, he could still be punished with up to 20 years in prison. The exact punishment will only be announced by judge Arun Subramanian on 3 October, however. According to court documents, the State Prosecutor believes a jail sentence of between two years and three months and three years and three months is appropriate.
Combs will remain in custody until the verdict is announced. His lawyers had tried to achieve a deal for release on bail, offering a package worth 50 million dollars. Under the deal, Combs would have been permitted to live under house arrest at his property in Miami until the verdict was announced. But the judge responsible for the case has now officially rejected this offer.
Translated by Tim Lywood
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