Sean “Diddy” Combs’s attorneys said they will appeal his sentence of 4 years and 2 months in prison for prostitution-related charges.
The disgraced music titan, 55, was convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, also known as the Mann Act. Combs begged Judge Arun Subramanian for “mercy” and acknowledged his behavior was “disgusting, shameful and sick. However, Subramanian said that a “substantial sentence must be given.”
Now, Combs’s attorneys say they will appeal the sentence. His defense attorney, Brian Steel, called it “un-American” in an interview with CNN.
“People get — god forbid — falsely accused of a crime, they go to trial, they have all the witnesses testify, credibility is determined, the jury reaches a verdict, and finds in their favor — and then they get sentenced for the same exact conduct that the jury found that they did not commit,” Steel said. “It seems un-American.”
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo also said the sentence was “unconstitutional” and claimed the judge used the word “coercion” at least a dozen times, even though the jury “found that there was not coercion.”
The prosecution wanted Combs to receive at least 11 years in prison, while the defense argued for a more lenient sentence of 14 months.
Key Points
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs addresses the court for the first time, apologizes to Cassie Ventura
- Combs apologizes for attacking girlfriend in letter to judge
- Cassie Ventura's attorney: 'Sentence recognizes impact of serious offenses he committed'
- Diddy apologizes to domestic violence victims
BREAKING: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison
Friday 3 October 2025 21:45 , Rhian LubinBREAKING: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison after being convicted of prostitution-related charges.
'He has to pay the price for what he did': Attorney Gloria Allred gives statement following Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentencing
14:00 , Katie HawkinsonWatch as Gloria Allred spoke to reporters after Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Friday:
ICYMI: Judge rips into Sean Combs as he hands down 4-year sentence
13:00 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian ripped into Sean “Diddy” Combs as he sentenced him to more than four years in prison.
“A history of good works can't wash away the record in this case. You abused these women. You used that abuse to get your way, freakoffs and hotel nights,” Subramanian said.
“The evidence of the abuse is massive,” he added. “The drugs may have exacerbated your erratic and violent behavior over the years. However, the court has to consider all of your history here.”
Read more from Kelly Rissman:
Diddy sentenced to 4 years and 2 months behind bars for prostitution charges
ICYMI: Lawyer says Combs's sentence may encourage others to come forward
12:00 , Katie HawkinsonArick Fudali, an attorney who represents others who have sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, issued a statement on the music mogul’s sentencing, according to CNN.
“I appreciate the judge’s focus on the victims and devastation Mr. Combs inflicted on their lives,” he said in the statement. “I hope the fact that someone as notorious, wealthy, famous as Mr. Combs will be spending years in prison for his crimes will encourage other victims who are suffering in silence to come forward and confront their abuser, no matter how powerful he may appear.”
ICYMI: Diddy's attorney calls sentence "un-American"
11:00 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s attorney, Brian Steel, told CNN on Friday night that Judge Arun Subramanian’s sentence was “un-American.”
“People get — god forbid — falsely accused of a crime, they go to trial, they have all the witnesses testify, credibility is determined, the jury reaches a verdict, and finds in their favor — and then they get sentenced for the same exact conduct that the jury found that they did not commit,” Steel said. “It seems un-American.”
Watch: Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyer dockets emotional video ahead of court sentencing
10:00 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s defense team played an 11-minute video in court today, depicting the music mogul as a doting father and partner to the late Kim Porter.
Watch a clip from the video:
Courtroom sketches show Diddy's emotional reactions in court
09:00 , Katie HawkinsonCourtroom sketches show that Sean “Diddy” Combs became emotional at some points during Friday’s sentencing hearing.
Watch: Sean "Diddy" Combs's family leaves court after sentencing
08:00 , Katie Hawkinson"There is light at the end of the tunnel," judge tells Diddy
07:00 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian told Diddy that there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for him and his family.
He acknowledged in court that the mogul was in a “dark place” right now, but he would pull through with the support of his loved ones.
“This is hard time in prison, away from your family, friends and community, but you will have a life afterward,” Subramanian said.
“All those letters that I saw, show that you have a universe of people who love you,” he added. “Let them lift you up now, just like you’ve lifted them up for so many years.”
What did Diddy say in court during his sentencing hearing?
06:00 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs begged Judge Arun Subramanian for “mercy” in his first statement to the court on Friday.
“I ask your honor for mercy, I beg your honor for mercy,” he said.
He began the statement by apologizing to his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
“One of the hardest things that I’ve had to handle is having to be quiet. Not being able to express how sorry I am for my actions,” Combs said.
“I want to personally apologize again to Cassie Ventura for any harm or hurt that I’ve caused her – emotionally or physically,” he added.
Combs added that his behavior was “disgusting, shameful and sick.”
ICYMI: Judge says he is proud of the "brave" women who came forward
05:01 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian praised the women who came forward to testify in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s trial and said he was “proud” of their bravery.
“To Ms. Ventura and the other brave survivors that came forward, I want to say first: We heard you,” Subramanian said.
“I am proud of you for coming to the court to tell the world what really happened,” he added.
Where will Diddy serve his sentence?
04:20 , Katie HawkinsonIt’s still unclear where Sean “Diddy” Combs will serve out the remainder of his sentence.
His lawyers said they could suggest a prison facility early next week.
Combs was first arrested in September 2024, and he’ll get credit for the time he’s already spent in custody. With good behavior, he could serve as little as two and a half years behind bars.
I had a prime seat for Diddy’s last act and one thing is clear: The show is over
03:45 , Kelly RissmanTen minutes after 10 a.m. Friday, Sean “Diddy” Combs walked into the federal courtroom — the familiar one he sat in for his eight-week trial — one final time for his sentencing hearing.
The music mogul hugged his attorneys, waved to his family sitting in the pews, and sat down for what would be a dramatic six-hour hearing that determined his fate for the next four years.
“I don't care about the fame or the money or making records or performing,” the award-winning rapper declared in his first remarks to the court. But by that point, his legions of fans, both inside and outside the courthouse, had already been presented with a show — the last act of his farewell tour. I had a prime seat.
I had a prime seat for Diddy’s last act and one thing is clear: The show is over
Watch: Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyer dockets emotional video ahead of court sentencing
03:15 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s defense team played an 11-minute video in court today, depicting the music mogul as a doting father and partner to the late Kim Porter.
Watch a clip from the video below:
In pictures: Diddy's mother leaves courthouse after sentencing
02:45 , Katie Hawkinson
Diddy's attorney calls sentence 'unconstitutional'
02:15 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, called Judge Arun Subramanian’s sentence “unconstitutional.”
“We think we have strong bases to appeal,” Agnifilo said outside the courthouse on Friday. “The strongest basis is that the jury reached a verdict on coercion, it found there was not coercion, and I think the judge said ‘coercion’ today as a basis for a sentence at least a dozen times.”
“We think that that is unconstitutional,” he added.
ICYMI: Diddy wrote a begging letter to judge on eve of sentencing
01:30 , Katie HawkinsonJust one day before he was sentenced to more than four years in prison, Sean “Diddy” Combs wrote a four-page letter to Judge Arun Subramanian.
In the letter, Combs expressed remorse and detailed his struggles while in custody.
“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up,” he wrote. “There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”
Read more:
‘I lost my mind’: Diddy writes begging letter to judge on eve of sentencing
Diddy's attorney calls sentence "un-American"
01:05 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s attorney, Brian Steel, told CNN on Friday night that Judge Arun Subramanian’s sentence was “un-American.”
“People get — god forbid — falsely accused of a crime, they go to trial, they have all the witnesses testify, credibility is determined, the jury reaches a verdict, and finds in their favor — and then they get sentenced for the same exact conduct that the jury found that they did not commit,” Steel said. “It seems un-American.”
Marc Agnifilo, another one of Combs’s attorneys, said that the team believes they have a “strong basis to appeal.”
ICYMI: Diddy says his behavior was 'disgusting, shameful and sick'
Saturday 4 October 2025 00:40 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs said his behavior was “disgusting, shameful and sick” while speaking in court moments before Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced him.
“I was sick, sick from the drugs. I was out of control, I needed help, and I didn't get the help, and I cannot make no excuse because my mother taught me.”
He turned to his mother in the gallery and told her: “I failed you as a son, and I’m sorry.”
Will Combs get credit for time served?
Saturday 4 October 2025 00:20 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to four years and two months in prison today.
However, he will get credit for time served since his September 2024 arrest, ABC News reports. Combs has been incarcerated for the last 12 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Watch: Attorney Gloria Allred gives statement following Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentencing
Saturday 4 October 2025 00:00 , Katie HawkinsonCourtroom sketches depict moment judge sentenced Diddy
Friday 3 October 2025 23:40 , Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Sean 'Diddy' Combs's family leaves court after sentencing
Friday 3 October 2025 23:15 , Katie HawkinsonGloria Allred says clients 'comforted' Combs will be in jail for several years
Friday 3 October 2025 22:55 , Katie HawkinsonGloria Allred, a high-profile attorney representing some of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s accusers, said her clients are “comforted” now that he’s been sentenced to more than four years in prison.
“Many of my clients were very concerned that he might walk free by the end of this year...and they were very much afraid that he would retaliate against them,” she said outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan.
“So I think that they will be happy that he will be at least in prison for a number of years. I think they’ll feel comforted on that,” she added.
Lawyer says Combs's sentence may encourage others to come forward
Friday 3 October 2025 22:39 , Katie HawkinsonArick Fudali, an attorney who represents others who have sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, issued a statement on the music mogul’s sentencing, according to CNN.
“I appreciate the judge’s focus on the victims and devastation Mr. Combs inflicted on their lives,” he said in the statement. “I hope the fact that someone as notorious, wealthy, famous as Mr. Combs will be spending years in prison for his crimes will encourage other victims who are suffering in silence to come forward and confront their abuser, no matter how powerful he may appear.”
Full story: Judge rips into Sean Combs as he hands down 4-year sentence for ‘freak off’ crimes
Friday 3 October 2025 22:26 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to more than four years in prison today after being convicted on prostitution-related charges in July.
Kelly Rissman has the full story:
Diddy sentenced to 4 years and 2 months behind bars for prostitution charges
Cassie Ventura's attorney: "Sentence recognizes impact of serious offenses he committed"
Friday 3 October 2025 22:10 , Rhian LubinCassie Ventura’s attorney has said today’s sentence “recognizes the impact” of the seriousness of the offenses Diddy committed.
“While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed,” said Doug Wigdor.
“We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many.”
Where will Diddy serve out his sentence?
Friday 3 October 2025 22:06 , Rhian LubinWe don’t yet know where Diddy will serve out the rest of his sentence.
His lawyers said they could suggest a prison facility at the beginning of next week.
Diddy has been in prison since September 2024. With good behavior, he could serve as little as two and a half years behind bars.
Pictured: Scene outside the courthouse
Friday 3 October 2025 22:05 , Rhian Lubin
"There is light at the end of the tunnel" - Judge to Diddy
Friday 3 October 2025 22:00 , Rhian LubinThe judge has told Diddy that there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for him and his family.
He acknowledged that the mogul was in a “dark place” right now, but he would pull through with the support of his loved ones.
“This is hard time in prison, away from your family, friends and community, but you will have a life afterward,” Subramanian said.
“All those letters that I saw, show that you have a universe of people who love you,” the judge said. “Let them lift you up now, just like you’ve lifted them up for so many years.”
Judge says he is proud of the "brave" women who came forward
Friday 3 October 2025 21:52 , Rhian LubinThe judge praised the women who came forward to testify in Diddy’s trial and said he was “proud” of their bravery.
“To Ms. Ventura and the other brave survivors that came forward, I want to say first: We heard you,” Subramanian said.
“I am proud of you for coming to the court to tell the world what really happened,” he said.
Judge also slaps Diddy with maximum $500,000 fine
Friday 3 October 2025 21:50 , Rhian LubinIn addition to the 4-year prison sentence, Judge Arun Subramanian has slapped Diddy with a $500,000 fine, which is the maximum possible.
Journalists in the courthouse report that Diddy’s hands were clasped tightly as the sentence came in.
Judge: "Substantial sentence must be given"
Friday 3 October 2025 21:40 , Rhian LubinThe judge has said the court is “not assured” that if Diddy is released, the crimes “will not be committed again.”
“A substantial sentence must be given,” he said.
Judge acknowledges how Diddy "lifted up and inspired" communities
Friday 3 October 2025 21:36 , Rhian LubinThe judge has acknowledged how Diddy has “lifted up and inspired” communities.
“That’s especially impressive given the early violent death of your father and the trauma that must’ve left,” Subramanian said.
Judge Arun Subramanian about to sentence Diddy
Friday 3 October 2025 21:32 , Rhian LubinJudge Arun Subramanian is now summing up before delivering Diddy’s sentence.
“A history of good works can't wash away the record in this case. You abused these women,” the judge said. “You used that abuse to get your way, freak offs and hotel nights. The evidence of the abuse is massive,” journalist Matthew Lee reports from the courthouse.
Diddy steps down from the stand
Friday 3 October 2025 21:25 , Rhian LubinDiddy has finished his address to the judge.
The judge has adjourned for a 5-minute break.
Diddy apologizes to domestic violence victims
Friday 3 October 2025 21:22 , Rhian LubinDiddy has apologized to domestic violence victims who he says were triggered by the “disgusting despicable video” of him beating Cassie Ventura in 2016.
“I don’t have nobody to blame but myself,” he told the judge. “I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again. I know that I’ve learned my lesson.”
Diddy begs judge to show 'mercy' in sentencing
Friday 3 October 2025 21:18 , Rhian LubinDiddy has begged Judge Arun Subramanian to show mercy in his sentencing.
“I ask your honor for mercy, I beg your honor for mercy,” he said.
“I ask your honor for a chance to be a father again. I ask your honor for a chance to be a son again. I ask your honor for a chance to be a leader in my community again.”
Echoing what he wrote in his four-page letter to the judge, Diddy said he was “lost.”
“I got lost. I’m not this bad person,” he implored the judge. “I’m sorry to my community for letting y’all down.”
Diddy: Behavior was 'disgusting, shameful and sick'
Friday 3 October 2025 21:13 , Rhian LubinDiddy says his behavior was “disgusting, shameful and sick.”
“I was sick, sick from the drugs. I was out of control, I needed help and i didn't get the help and I cannot make no excuse because my mother taught me.”
He turned to his mother in the gallery and told her: “I failed you as a son, and I’m sorry.”
BREAKING: Sean “Diddy” Combs addresses the court for the first time
Friday 3 October 2025 21:09 , Rhian LubinSean “Diddy” Combs is addressing the court for the first time as he makes a final bid to the judge for a lesser sentence.
He begins by apologizing to his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
“One of the hardest things that I’ve had to handle is having to be quiet. Not being able to express how sorry I am for my actions,” he began.
“I want to personally apologize again to Cassie Ventura for any harm or hurt that I’ve caused her – emotionally or physically.”
Court breaks for 10 minutes before Diddy has final word
Friday 3 October 2025 20:55 , Rhian LubinThe court is breaking for 10 minutes before Diddy gets his chance to speak directly to the judge.
Prosecution: 'Defendant is a master puppeteer'
Friday 3 October 2025 20:51 , Rhian LubinAssistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik is delivering her rebuttal and argues in her final remarks that Diddy is “a master puppeteer.”
Prosecution is now giving rebuttal before Diddy set to address the court
Friday 3 October 2025 20:46 , Rhian LubinThe prosecution is now giving a rebuttal to what the defense has laid out today.
We have heard from five of Diddy’s defense attorneys this afternoon, his children, and other associates who have all argued he should be released.
Diddy is anticipated to speak very soon and will get the last word.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo makes brief remarks before Diddy set to have final word
Friday 3 October 2025 20:38 , Rhian LubinLead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo has made some brief remarks, where he spoke of Diddy’s childhood trauma, clearing the way for Diddy to speak next.
Agnifilo suggested his client should have “the last word” before the judge delivers the sentence.
'Mr Combs is not a pimp' - defense attorney
Friday 3 October 2025 20:23 , Rhian LubinThe court has heard from a Florida preacher who is arguing that Diddy should be rehabilitated instead of incarcerated.
Rev. Gary Johnson said he would take personal responsibility for Diddy’s rehabilitation if the judge releases him today.
We have also just heard from another of Diddy’s defense attorneys, Xavier Donaldson, who is arguing against the prosecution’s contention that Diddy behaved “like a pimp.”
“The government equates Sean Combs with a pimp. I want to be clear Mr. Combs is not a pimp," Donaldson said.
Marc Agnifilo, the lead defense attorney in the case, is due to speak next.
Defense responds to Miami events Diddy was booked to appear at next week
Friday 3 October 2025 20:10 , Rhian LubinThe defense has responded to a “teaching engagement” Diddy was arranged to speak at in Miami next week, which the prosecution described as “the height of hubris,” given he is facing years in prison.
An event in Miami was slated for October 6, next week.
It was not a “speaking engagement,” according to Steel, but a “healing for Sean as well as the community.”
Another defense attorney is set to address this further soon, according to Steel.
Pictured: Diddy and defense team featured in court sketches
Friday 3 October 2025 20:05 , Rhian LubinMore court sketches have landed from inside the sentencing.
They show Diddy wearing glasses, sat between several of his defense team.
Diddy was nearly stabbed in prison, his lawyer says
Friday 3 October 2025 20:02 , Rhian LubinSean “Diddy” Combs was nearly stabbed in prison by another inmate, according to his defense attorney.
Combs has been in Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in September 2024 and has become “a trophy” among inmates, according to defense attorney Brian Steel.
“The guards stopped a person who was armed with a shank who was on top of Sean and about to cut him,” Steele said.
More time in custody 'is not the way we treat drug addiction today'
Friday 3 October 2025 19:55 , Rhian LubinDiddy “does not need any additional time in custody,” his defense attorney argued. “That is not the way we treat” drug addiction today, he added.
Steele said that the disgraced rapper has “punished himself more than anyone will be able to punish him.”
'He was high every single day'
Friday 3 October 2025 19:50 , Rhian LubinDiddy was “high every single day” after his best friend, Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls, was murdered in 1997, his attorney said.
After the murder, Diddy got hooked on painkillers following a medical procedure, said defense attorney Brian Steel said.
“He was medicating because his body was hurt and his emotions were hurt. But he never stopped working. And all of that, the drug addiction and the trauma — untreated, your honor — caused him to hit, on occasion... the woman he loved.”
He added that Diddy is “haunted” by the violence he inflicted on his victims and remembers “every strike.”
“Sean wants nothing for himself,” Steele added. “This sentence today is not about him. He wants to get back to his family, for them.”
What is Diddy likely to say as he addresses the court for the first time?
Friday 3 October 2025 19:40 , Rhian LubinDiddy has already given a glimpse of what he could say in his anticipated address to the court.
On the eve of his sentencing, he said in a four-page letter to the judge that he is a new man after realizing that he was “broken to my core” and wondering at times if he was better off dead.
“Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up,” Combs wrote. “There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”
Combs wrote that the last two years have been the hardest of his life, adding: “And I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself.”
He continued: “In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them. I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”
While he made references to the horrifying assault he inflicted upon ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and apologized to “Jane,” another victim of his years-long abuse, the letter was mostly about himself.
Read more below:
‘I lost my mind’: Diddy writes begging letter to judge on eve of sentencing
Defense lawyer: 'Diddy has untreated trauma’
Friday 3 October 2025 19:27 , Rhian LubinCourt has resumed for the afternoon and we’re now hearing from Diddy’s defense lawyer, Brian Steel, who is talking about the mogul’s “untreated trauma.”
He says the trauma, coupled with Diddy’s “ferocious drug addiction,” has contributed to his misconduct.
Steel tells the judge about the impact the murder of Diddy’s father had on him when he was just three years old, which the rapper mentioned in his own letter to the judge.
After his father was murdered, Steel told the judge how Diddy’s uncle overdosed on drugs a few years later in an addiction that “later in life would haunt also Sean.”
The attorney, the third of five defense lawyers to speak on behalf of Diddy, calls his client “the hardest working person that I have ever known.”
New: Court sketches show an emotional Diddy
Friday 3 October 2025 19:13 , Rhian LubinCourt sketches have just dropped and show Diddy looking emotional as he listened to his children speak in his defense.
Recap: What's happened so far at Diddy's sentencing
Friday 3 October 2025 19:00 , Rhian Lubin- It’s been a tense morning so far at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan
- The prosecution is seeking a more lengthy sentence of 11 years and 3 months from Judge Arun Subramanian, while the defense argues Diddy should receive a maximum of 14 months
- The judge has signaled that Diddy is likely to receive somewhere between 5 and 7 years in prison for the two prostitution-related charges, which he said was “appropriate” and in line with recommendations in the pre-sentencing report
- The prosecution revealed that Diddy is booked for “teaching engagements” in Miami as soon as next week, which prosecutor Christy Slavik said was “the height of hubris” given he is facing years in prison
- Prosecutors argued that Diddy has not accepted responsibility for his actions
- The defense, meanwhile, has tried to portray Diddy in a positive light
- Diddy’s children shared emotional statements with the judge, with his daughter Jessie Combs, 18, breaking down in tears
- Son Christian Combs begged the judge: “Please let my father out”
- Listening to his children speak, Combs wiped away tears from his eyes and appeared visibly emotional
- The defense played a video to the court, which showed Diddy interacting with his children, opening his charter schools and tending to Kim Porter, the mother of four of his children, on her deathbed
- This afternoon, we are due to hear from more people who will speak in defense of Diddy, before the mogul is expected to make his own case
Diddy 'visibly emotional' as children spoke
Friday 3 October 2025 18:35 , Kelly RissmanDiddy was visibly emotional, burying his face in his hand and wiping his eyes as his children spoke, Kelly Rissman reports from court.
The twins, in particular, were very moving. Both broke down in tears as they spoke.
When 18-year-old Jessie Combs started speaking, Diddy grabbed the back of his head and looked down, covering his face, as if evoking heartache for his child.
The video played like a highlight reel of his life, mostly showing clips of children’s birthdays, opening his charter schools, and attending to Kim Porter on her deathbed.
The music in the background, paired with clips of him speaking, was reminiscent of a video played at a concert before the show begins.
Court breaks for lunch until 2.15 p.m. ET
Friday 3 October 2025 18:20 , Rhian LubinThe court is now breaking for lunch and will resume at 2.15 p.m. ET.
During the break, we’ll be recapping on what we’ve heard so far.
Diddy's daughter breaks down in tears: 'He has made many mistakes'
Friday 3 October 2025 18:14 , Rhian LubinOne of Diddy’s daughters, Jessie Combs, broke down in tears as she addressed the court, and said she knows her father “has made many mistakes.”
“We know he isn’t perfect,” Jessie Combs said. “And we aren’t here to excuse any of those mistakes. But, your honor, he is still our dad, and we still need him present in our lives.”
Jessie Combs’s mother is Kim Porter, who died in 2018. She told the judge how her father “would always be there to keep us safe,” particularly after their mother died.
“When my mother died, I was just a little girl trying to understand a loss way too big for words,” she said. “I remember my dad sitting us down that day, holding us close, even though his own heart was breaking and promising that he would always be there to keep us safe, that he would always walk beside us in life.”
Court is now watching the video of Diddy as a doting dad
Friday 3 October 2025 18:10 , Rhian LubinThe defense is now playing the 11-minute video of Diddy, portayed in the film as a doting father and partner to the late Kim Porter.
Watch a clip from the video below:
'Please let my father out' - Diddy's children address the court
Friday 3 October 2025 18:05 , Rhian LubinSome of Diddy’s children are now speaking in court in defense of their dad.
Diddy’s eldest son, Quincy Brown, says his father “has learned a lesson” and he has completely transformed” during his stint in prison.
Justin Combs, Diddy’s other son, said he hopes his father gets the chance “to right this wrong and to be the man he truly is.”
“My father is my superhero. Seeing him broken down and stripped of everything is something I will never forget,” Justin Combs told the judge.
Christian Combs begged the judge to free Diddy. “Please give my family grace. Please let my father out,” he said. “Please give him mercy.”
Diddy 'can reach more people on the outside than he can on the inside'
Friday 3 October 2025 17:55 , Rhian LubinDiddy’s defense attorney also spoke of the six-week course he has been running for inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
He has been teaching fellow inmates how to “better themselves” on the course, called “Free Game With Diddy,” which is slang for information given freely.
“He can reach so many more on the outside than he can on the inside,” attorney Nicole Westmoreland told the judge. “It is of no benefit to anyone to warehouse him in a prison.”
Diddy has been teaching inmates about positive thinking, how to deal with failure, goal setting and sharing other business success stories, according to the syllabus.
Read more about the classes below...
Diddy offering course to fellow inmates in NYC jail called ‘Free Game With Diddy’
Diddy changed 'countless lives,' defense attorney says
Friday 3 October 2025 17:48 , Rhian LubinDiddy’s defense attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, said that the rapper has saved “countless lives” through his work in the community and that should be factored into sentencing.
“Mr. Combs is not larger than life. He’s a human being. And he’s made some mistakes. He has flaws, like we all do,” she said.
“But judge, how many of us can say that we helped so many lives, countless lives?”
Diddy’s attorney tears up as she says the mogul has been an ‘inspiration’ for Black people
Friday 3 October 2025 17:40 , Rhian LubinNicole Westmoreland, one of Diddy’s attorneys, is speaking at the moment and teared up at one point when talking of his work in the community, particularly with his Revolt TV network.
She said that Diddy has given Black people “a seat at the table, a voice.”
“He gave others an opportunity to have a voice on multiple networks, a way to show his community they are important, and issues affecting the Black community they are important,” Westmoreland said.
What is the Mann Act?
Friday 3 October 2025 17:26 , Rhian LubinThe Mann Act makes it illegal to transport someone across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or other illegal sex acts.
Over the years, the law has been used to prosecute R&B superstar R. Kelly, Jeffrey Epstein companion Ghislaine Maxwell, musician Chuck Berry and, more than a century ago, boxer Jack Johnson.
Combs was convicted of counts involving two former girlfriends: the R&B singer Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane.
Both women said at trial that Combs had pressured them into degrading sex marathons with strangers, who were paid for the sexual performances.
Jane said she was once beaten by Combs for declining to participate. Ventura said that when she tried to walk out of one such event, Combs beat her and dragged her down a hotel hallway.
Defense attorney Jason Driscoll said that prosecutors have acknowledged that Combs didn’t profit from the prostitution in the case.
“That aggravating factor is completely off the table in this case,” he said.
Read more on the Mann Act in our explainer:
Sean 'Diddy' Combs will be sentenced under the Mann Act, a prostitution law from 1910
Diddy's lawyers begin arguments for a lesser sentence
Friday 3 October 2025 17:14 , APAttorney Jason Driscoll started by recapping the defense’s argument that the Mann Act, which Diddy was convicted of violating, should never have been applied to him.
The 115-year-old federal law prohibits taking someone across state lines for criminal sexual activity.
Driscoll argued that Mann Act prosecutions generally have targeted people accused of making money off their conduct.
He asserted that Diddy “did not make a single cent” from what he was convicted of doing.
Defense is preparing to argue for lesser sentence
Friday 3 October 2025 16:54 , Rhian LubinThe prosecution has finished its arguments for a lengthier sentence.
Slavik finished by arguing a lesser sentence could encourage more people to commit similar crimes, knowing they won’t face much consequence.
It’s now the defense’s turn.
Prosecutors slam Diddy’s letter asking judge for mercy
Friday 3 October 2025 16:49 , Rhian Lubin, APThe prosecution has slammed Diddy’s letter to the judge, where he begged for mercy and a more lenient sentence.
Christy Slavik said Diddy portrayed himself as the victim of his own bad behavior in the four-page letter.
“Even in his submission last night, his remorse was qualified,” the prosecutor said.
In the letter, Combs wrote: “My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry.”
By framing it that way, Slavik said, it’s “like he’s the victim in this scenario.”
“This is not a person who has accepted responsibility,” Slavik said.
'The height of hubris' - Prosecutor claims Diddy already has 'teaching' engagements booked next week
Friday 3 October 2025 16:37 , Rhian Lubin, APThe prosecution has claimed that Diddy already has “teaching” engagements booked in Miami “for next week.”
In a Sept. 29 letter to the court, one of Combs’ supporters, a Miami-based nonprofit that helps prisoners readjust to freedom, said he had scheduled “teaching engagements” at a prison and various other facilities in South Florida this month, starting Monday.
The letter evidently anticipated he’d be free to lead these entrepreneurship and life skills programs, describing the work as “following his release.”
“That is the height of hubris,” Slavik said. Defense lawyers haven’t yet had their chance to respond.
Judge signals it's likely Diddy could receive between 5 or 7 years
Friday 3 October 2025 16:29 , Rhian LubinThe judge has signaled that it’s likely Diddy could receive a sentence of somewhere between 5 to 7 years in prison.
Subramanian said that he sees no reason to deviate from the range recommended in the pre-sentencing report, which is 70 - 87 months.
Guidelines also allow the court to slap Diddy with a fine ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.
'Diddy did horrible things to satisfy his sexual gratification' - prosecution
Friday 3 October 2025 16:20 , Rhian LubinProsecutors are now arguing for Diddy to receive a lengthier sentence of 11 years and 3 months.
“Today is about accountability and justice. Accountability for the defendant, who committed serious federal crimes repeatedly over the course of 15 years, and justice for the public, including for the victims, whose lives have been shattered,” Christy Slavik began.
“It’s a case about a man who did horrible things to real people to satisfy his own sexual gratification,” she added. “He didn’t need the money. His currency was control.”
'The Punisher' outside court promoting self-help book he wrote
Friday 3 October 2025 16:13 , Rhian Lubin, APMeanwhile, outside of the courthouse, an exotic dancer who testified at the trial is promoting a self-help book that he wrote.
Sharay Hayes went by the stage name “The Punisher.” At the trial he testified about being paid to have sex with Diddy’s girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“It’s been a crazy couple of months for me,” he said.
Hayes said he believes that the judge should sentence Diddy to the time he’s already served in jail.
Judge: 'Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly'
Friday 3 October 2025 16:05 , Rhian LubinJudge Subramanian has pushed back against Diddy’s defense team, who argue the pre-sentence report does not credit the mogul with accepting responsibility for his actions.
The judge said that while Diddy has “expressed remorse for some things,” he has not done so for the charges he has been convicted of - transporting people to engage in prostitution.
“Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly, and has even done so after trial,” the judge said.
Judge can factor in broader evidence of Diddy's conduct in sentencing
Friday 3 October 2025 15:54 , Rhian LubinThe judge has addressed an important fight over sentencing between the prosecution and defense, and that’s whether he can factor in broader evidence of Diddy’s conduct that was presented at trial.
To support their racketeering case, of which Diddy was found not guilty, prosecutors brought on witnesses who testified about other violent acts.
A former personal assistant testified that Combs raped her. One of Cassie Ventura’s friends told the jury Diddy dangled her from a 17th floor balcony. The rapper Kid Cudi testified that Diddy broke into his home after learning he and Ventura were dating.
Although the jury acquitted Diddy of racketeering, the judge has signaled that he can consider such conduct in sentencing.
Diddy's children allowed to address the court to defend their dad
Friday 3 October 2025 15:47 , Rhian LubinThe judge has allowed Diddy’s children to address the court and speak in defense of their dad.
A minister will also speak, and lawyers are now making their case for the court to hear from two doctors who have evaluated and cared for the rapper while he’s been in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Prosecution accuses defense of 'bullying' Mia out of speaking today
Friday 3 October 2025 15:37 , Rhian LubinWe have more behind Mia’s decision not to speak in court, which means we will not hear from any of Diddy’s victims in person today.
According to the prosecution, Mia has decided not to speak because of a letter the defense submitted, accusing her of being a liar.
The letter “can only be described as bullying,” said prosecutor Christy Slavik. “It appears the defense is trying to drown out the voices of victims in favor of character witnesses.”
The judge agreed and said the tone of the letter was “inappropriate.”
Prosecution witness 'Mia' will no longer address the court
Friday 3 October 2025 15:30 , Rhian LubinA woman who testified for the prosecution under the pseudonym “Mia” will not longer address the court today.
The prosecution had to fight for Mia’s victim impact statement to be read aloud at today’s hearing over objections from the defense, who argued that she was “not a victim of anything.”
Mia was Combs’s personal assistant between 2009 and 2017 and claimed Combs sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions.
“Mia no longer wishes to address the court here today - in part due to the letter submitted by the defense, bullying,” reports journalist and lawyer Matthew Lee, who is inside the courtroom.
Combs' Alexandra: We're going to submit a course evaluation from MDC-
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) October 3, 2025
AUSA Slavik: We don't have a copy.
Judge: Please give her one.
AUSA Slavik: Mia no longer wishes to address the court here today - in part due to the letter submitted by the defense, bullying
Judge Arun Subramanian takes the bench
Friday 3 October 2025 15:23 , Rhian Lubin, APJudge Arun Subramanian has entered the courtroom and taken the bench.
“Good morning and good morning to you, Mr. Combs,” the judge said.
“Good morning, your honor,” Combs replied.
Combs smiled briefly and waved to his family in the gallery before sitting down, putting on a pair of glasses and reading through papers from a large accordion-style folder.
Diddy blows a kiss to his mother in the gallery
Friday 3 October 2025 15:20 , Rhian LubinDiddy blew a kiss to his mother, who is looking on from the gallery.
His mom, Janice Combs, was at her son’s eight-week trial throughout, despite battling health problems.
Reporters in court note that the rapper’s mood appears to be “somber” and one of his lawyers patted him on the back as a show of support as the hearing gets underway.
Diddy is brought into the courtroom as sentencing begins
Friday 3 October 2025 15:15 , Rhian Lubin, APSean “Diddy” Combs has been brought into the courtroom and the hearing has started.
The hip-hop mogul entered the packed courtroom through a side door, escorted by deputy U.S. marshals.
Combs was transported to the courthouse Friday morning from the Metropolitan Detention Center, the Brooklyn federal jail where he’s been held since his arrest in September 2024.
Given permission by the judge to don non-jail clothes, Combs arrived wearing a light-colored sweater over a button-down shirt and dark-colored dress pants. He hugged his lawyers and greeted his family and supporters as he walked to the defense table.
Pictured: Diddy's daughters and defense team arrive at the courthouse
Friday 3 October 2025 15:00 , Rhian LubinDiddy’s daughters and his defense team have arrived at the courthouse.
Judge already knocked back two bail requests from Diddy's lawyers
Friday 3 October 2025 14:55 , Rhian Lubin, APU.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who will decide the sentence, has signaled that Combs is unlikely to be freed soon.
He twice rejected bail for the rapper, who has been jailed at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since his arrest a year ago.
To support their racketeering case, of which Combs was found not guilty, prosecutors brought on witnesses who testified about other violent acts.
A former personal assistant testified that Combs raped her. One of Cassie’s friends told the jury Combs dangled her from a 17th floor balcony. The rapper Kid Cudi testified that Combs broke into his home after learning he and Cassie were dating.
Although the jury acquitted Combs of racketeering, the judge can still consider that testimony as he decides the sentence.
Pictured: Diddy's family arrive at the courthouse
Friday 3 October 2025 14:50 , Rhian Lubin
WATCH: Diddy's lawyer dockets emotional video ahead of court sentencing
Friday 3 October 2025 14:40 , Rhian LubinDiddy’s lawyers have shared the video they intend to play at his sentencing for prostitution-related charges, portraying him as a doting father.
The 11-minute video submitted in a court filing at the eleventh hour to Judge Arun Subramanian is shot in documentary style and features clips of Combs over the years with his children and partaking in charity work.
Watch below:
Hearing could run into Monday as both sides prepare 'hours long' presentations - report
Friday 3 October 2025 14:30 , Rhian LubinToday’s sentencing hearing could run into Monday, as the prosecution and defense have both prepared hours-long presentations, according to a report.
It could be hours before Diddy addresses the court, according to CNN, citing court sources.
It’s up to the judge to decide how much time he will allocate to each side.
The hearing is due to begin at 10 a.m. ET.
Diddy's defense teases 15 minute video they will play in court
Friday 3 October 2025 14:15 , Rhian LubinSean “Diddy” Combs’s defense team has said they want to play a 15-minute video to the court at today’s sentencing.
One of Diddy’s lawyers, Brian Steel, filed a submission Thursday with a link to the video the defense intends to play the court. It’s a documentary-style video and includes clips of Diddy partaking in charity work, youth engagement programs, and focuses on him caring for his kids after the death of their mother, Kim Porter.
Four of Combs’s attorneys are expected to speak at the hearing, in addition to potentially the rapper himself.
It would be the first time he has addressed the court.
‘I literally lost my mind’: Diddy writes letter to judge on eve of sentencing begging for clemency
Friday 3 October 2025 14:00 , Alex CroftOn the eve of his sentencing, Sean “Diddy” Combs told a federal judge Thursday that he is a new man after realizing that he was “broken to my core” and wondering at times if he was better off dead.
Combs, 55, wrote in a four-page letter to Judge Arun Subramanian that, with his mind clear of drugs and alcohol after a year in jail, he can see how rotten he had become before his September 2024 arrest in a case that led to his conviction on two prostitution-related counts.
His sentencing hearing is set to begin at 10am ET (3pm GMT) on Friday morning in New York.
Read the full report:
‘I lost my mind’: Diddy writes begging letter to judge on eve of sentencing
Criminal case is entering its final stage as Diddy's day of reckoning arrives
Friday 3 October 2025 13:55 , Kelly RissmanAlmost exactly five months to the day since Diddy first appeared at the federal courthouse for his trial, the criminal case is entering its final stage.
Over the course of eight weeks, ex-girlfriends and former associates detailed Diddy’s sex abuse, drug use, and frequent “freak offs.”
The testimony ranged from emotional to disturbing, but a jury wasn’t convinced he was a sex trafficker or racketeer, only finding him guilty of prostitution-related charges.
Diddy, for his part, has tried to wriggle his way out of today.
His lawyers asked for an acquittal, or if that didn’t work, a new trial. The judge rejected both requests. Now, he’ll have to face his fate.
His exes and former employees have asked the judge to hand down a sentence that reflected their harrowing experiences.
Prosecutors have asked for 135 months (approximately 11 years) while his legal team has asked for no more than 14 months behind bars.
50Cent takes a swipe at Diddy ahead of sentencing
Friday 3 October 2025 13:45 , Rhian LubinRapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has shared a spoof letter to the judge ahead of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing today.
“This is my letter to the judge on Diddy’s case,” Jackson titled the post, and appeared to mock Combs for the six-week course he has been running for inmates behind bars.
A day ahead of the sentencing, Jackson addressed Judge Arun Subramanian and urged him to “consider the safety of the general public, your honor, before unleashing him upon them,” in a post on X.
“There hasn’t been enough time for him to reform or make any adjustments, despite his trying to teach a class in there,” he said of Combs.
The two have been at odds for over 20 years. During the trial, Jackson, 49, who is also knowns as “Fiddy,” repeatedly mocked Combs over the shocking revelations that have emerged.
Read on for a detailed timeline of one of rap’s biggest feuds...
Diddy vs 50 Cent: A 25-year timeline of one of rap’s biggest feuds
Fans, cameras, police and protesters outside courthouse
Friday 3 October 2025 13:34 , Kelly Rissman, Rhian LubinThe Independent’s Kelly Rissman is outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan waiting to go inside for the sentencing.
Outside is the usual combination of chaos we saw during the eight-week trial: fans, cameras, police, and random protesters, she reports.
All of the charges against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Friday 3 October 2025 13:30 , Rhian LubinAfter a high-profile trial lasting two months, jurors reached a verdict on Sean “Diddy” Combs in July.
It came nearly 10 months after prosecutors in Manhattan initially unveiled a three-count criminal indictment against Combs, accusing him of engaging in transportation for prostitution, and conspiracy over the course of more than 17 years.
If you need a reminder here’s a breakdown all of the counts Combs was hit with...
Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy - Not Guilty
The government charged Diddy with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy act by conspiring with a “criminal enterprise” to carry out a pattern of illegal behavior.
The charge carried a maximum sentence of life in prison – the most severe punishment out of any of the charges.
Count 2: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion - Not Guilty
The mogul was charged with one count of sex trafficking as related to “Victim 1,” his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Prosecutors say Diddy recruited Ventura into his orbit after she signed with his record label, Bad Boy Records, and he began flirting with her.
The charge carried a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Count 3: Transportation for purposes of prostitution - Guilty
The government charged Combs with one count of transportation for purposes of prostitution related to Ventura. Prosecutors claim the music mogul knowingly transported Ventura and other male escorts across state lines and internationally for the purposes of engaging in prostitution.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Count 4: Sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion - Not Guilty
The rapper was charged with one count of sex trafficking as related to “Victim 2,” his ex-girlfriend known under the pseudonym “Jane.”
The charge carried a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Count 5: Transportation for purposes of prostitution - Guilty
Diddy faced an additional charge of transportation for purposes of prostitution related to the travel of “Jane” and male escorts.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Huge line forms outside of courthouse as people camp out
Friday 3 October 2025 13:15 , Rhian LubinPictures from outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan show a huge line, as people camped out for hours to try and get a spot at today’s sentencing.
Who will be at Diddy's sentencing?
Friday 3 October 2025 13:00 , Rhian LubinSean “Diddy” Combs is set to be confronted by his former assistant, who testified under the pseudonym “Mia” during the trial, after Judge Arun Subramanian ruled she could speak at the hearing, despite objections from the defense.
The music mogul is also expected to speak for the first time today as he makes a personal bid to the judge.
His ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, is not expected to be at the hearing but submitted a three-page victim impact statement where she told of her fears over “swift retribution” should Combs walk free.
Diddy’s trial revealed the many faces of the ‘freak-off’-loving impresario
Friday 3 October 2025 12:30 , Rhian LubinFor many criminal defendants, courtroom reveals boil down to a nice business suit, occasional facial expressions and few words being uttered in public.
For Sean “Diddy” Combs, it’s not that simple, writes Kelly Rissman.
Fame and fixers had long shrouded some of the darker, more salacious aspects of a life the mogul managed to keep hidden for decades, but his sex trafficking trial dragged all the many faces of Diddy firmly into public view.
Diddy’s blockbuster eight-week trial in Manhattan federal court will have a lasting effect on his public persona.
Read on...
Combs asks judge for mercy on behalf of his family
Friday 3 October 2025 12:01 , Alex CroftIn his letter last night to federal judge Arun Subramanian, Combs pleaded for mercy for his family.
"As I write you this letter, I am scared to death. Scared to spend another second away from my mother and my children," he wrote. "I no longer care about the money or the fame. There is nothing more important to me than my family."
He said the conditions of his detention at a Brooklyn federal jail are "inhumane," writing that he is locked in a room with 25 other inmates, with no windows, no clean air, a broken washing machine and water that they boil before drinking.
Combs vowed to never commit a crime again, telling the judge that since he has been in jail he's gone through a "spiritual reset."
Rather than make an example out of him with a lengthy sentence, Combs implored Subramanian to "make me an example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance."
"If you allow me to go home to my family, I promise I will not let you down and I will make you proud," he wrote.
Diddy is offering a six-week course to fellow inmates at Brooklyn jail called ‘Free Game With Diddy’
Friday 3 October 2025 11:30 , Rhian LubinWhile Combs has been awaiting sentencing, he’s been passing the time in Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center by running a six-week course for his fellow inmates.
The course is called “Free Game With Diddy,” which is slang for information given freely.
Combs has been teaching inmates about positive thinking, how to deal with failure, goal setting and shares other business tips, according to the syllabus.
Read more below.
Diddy offering course to fellow inmates in NYC jail called ‘Free Game With Diddy’
Diddy was acquitted of most serious charges, but still could face 20-year sentence
Friday 3 October 2025 11:01 , Rhian LubinSean “Diddy” Combs will be sentenced Friday after a jury found him not guilty of the most serious charges in his federal trial, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, but convicted him of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The split verdict followed an eight-week trial that centered on allegations from his former girlfriends — singer Cassie Ventura and “Jane” — who claimed Diddy manipulated and abused them over several years, including forcing them to participate in so-called “Freak Offs.”
While the acquittals mean Diddy avoids a potential life sentence, the convictions carry a maximum of 10 years each, leaving him facing up to 20 years in prison.
Erin Keller and Kelly Rissman report.
Combs apologizes for attacking girlfriend in letter to judge
Friday 3 October 2025 10:29 , Alex CroftWe earlier reported that Combs had written a letter to federal judge Arun Subramanian saying he was a “changed” man.
In the letter, sent on the eve of his sentencing later today, Combs also apologized for hitting, kicking and dragging then-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 — an attack captured on security camera footage shown to jurors repeatedly during his two-month trial.
"The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily. I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I'm sorry for that and always will be."
Combs also apologized to a woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane," saying that "after hearing her testimony, I realized that I hurt her. For this I am deeply sorry."
Combs wrote that "the remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame" from his behavior has made it "so hard for me to forgive myself."
"It is like a deep wound that leaves an ugly scar," he said. "I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness."
'Some days I thought I would be better off dead', Diddy tells judge in letter
Friday 3 October 2025 09:59 , Alex CroftOn the eve of his sentencing, Sean "Diddy" Combs has sent a letter to a federal judge pleading for leniency.
Combs said he is a new man after realizing that he was "broken to my core" and wondering at times if he was better off dead.
In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, the 55-year-old said that with his mind clear of drugs and alcohol after a year in jail, he can see how rotten he had become before his September 2024 arrest in a case that led to his conviction on two prostitution-related counts.
"Over the past year there have been so many times that I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you — I choose to live," he said.
Combs wrote that the last two years have been the hardest of his life, "and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself."
"In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them," he wrote. "I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words 'I'm sorry' will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past."
Prosecution seeking 11 years, while defense wants 14 months
Friday 3 October 2025 09:35 , Rhian LubinFederal prosecutors are urging a New York judge to sentence Sean “Diddy” Combs to over 11 years in prison following his conviction on prostitution-related charges.
The prosecution's sentencing recommendation, filed late Monday, emphasizes the severity of Combs' actions, which they argue exploited vulnerable individuals for his own sexual gratification.
They’re asking that Combs be sentenced to serve at least 11 years and three months in prison and pay a $500,000 fine.
Combs’s legal team is arguing for a sentence of no more than 14 months’ prison time, which means Combs could theoretically soon walk free if the judge allows time served at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been since his arrest in September 2024.
Erin Keller has more details...
Prosecutors seek long prison term for Diddy as Cassie fears retribution
Sean 'Diddy' Combs due to be sentenced for prostitution-related charges
Friday 3 October 2025 09:26 , Rhian LubinWelcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the sentencing of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The disgraced music mogul is due to appear in court at 10 a.m. ET Friday, where he will be sentenced by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Combs is facing 20 years in prison after a jury convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Kelly Rissman, who reported every day from Combs’s two-month-trial, will be at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in Manhattan later this morning.
