Sean “Diddy” Combs made an appearance in Manhattan court on Friday, where he faced new allegations of sexually abusing three more victims. The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul, with a bloated and aged appearance, pleaded not guilty to the new indictments. These accusations claim that Combs sexually abused the victims for at least two decades, from 2004 to 2024.
Despite the fresh allegations, Combs is not facing any new charges at this time. The court documents also suggest that he engaged in “forced labor” by demanding employees to work long hours and threatening repercussions for those who did not participate in his alleged sex-trafficking scheme.
The trial for Combs is set to begin on May 12, with jury selection starting on May 5. During the court appearance, several family members were present to support Combs as he sat in a tan prison jumpsuit. He stood and hugged one of his attorneys before blowing a kiss towards his family in the courtroom.
The accusations against Combs include conspiracy and sex trafficking, where he is accused of abusing, coercing, and threatening women to fulfill his sexual desires. This allegedly involved drugging women and forcing them into prolonged sexual encounters with prostitutes, which he referred to as “Freak-Offs.”
In addition to the sexual abuse allegations, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, addressed claims about a video showing him assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. The video, which prosecutors plan to use as evidence during the trial, has been deemed by Combs’ legal team as “deceptive” and not accurately depicting the events that transpired.
Combs has been in custody without bail since his arrest in September, and if convicted on the top charge, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life behind bars. Following the court proceedings, Combs’ attorneys chose not to comment on the case.
The legal battle for Sean “Diddy” Combs continues as he awaits his trial, with the allegations of sexual abuse and sex trafficking casting a shadow over his once-prominent music career. The outcome of the trial will determine the future for the hip-hop mogul, as he fights to clear his name against these serious accusations.