Janice Smalls Combs, the mother of Sean "Diddy" Combs, has released a heartfelt statement defending her son amid allegations of sex trafficking and sexual abuse. Diddy, one of hip-hop's most influential figures, has recently found himself at the center of a legal storm that threatens to overshadow his career.
In a statement shared with the US Weekly on Sunday through her attorney, Natalie G. Figgers, Janice expressed her anguish over the situation. "I come to you today as a mother that is devastated and profoundly saddened by the allegations made against my son, Sean Combs. It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies," she said.
Diddy's legal troubles began to escalate after he was accused of sexually assaulting and abusing women, with charges involving sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He was arrested in September 2024 following a 14-page indictment that alleged a history of coercing women and engaging in abusive behavior.
The allegations against the 54-year-old artist stem from various incidents, including claims made by his ex-girlfriend Cassie. Cassie sued Diddy in November 2023, accusing him of physical abuse and sexual assault over ten years. While Diddy has denied these claims, the lawsuit was settled in a day, a decision that some have interpreted as an admission of guilt.
Janice Smalls Combs spoke about her son's right to defend himself. "To bear witness to what seems to be like a public lynching of my son before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words," she said. "Like every human being, my son deserves to have his day in court, to finally share his side, and to prove his innocence."
She acknowledged that her son, like anyone, has made mistakes in his past but stressed that those mistakes should not define him entirely. "My son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things, but not being straightforward about one issue does not mean my son is guilty of the repulsive allegations and grave charges leveled against him," Janice added.
Janice emphasized her son's right to a fair trial and condemned the rush to judgment that has plagued his case. "This injustice has been unbearable for our family," she said. "The worst part of this ordeal is watching my beloved son be stripped of his dignity, not for what he did, but for what people choose to believe about him."
"I beg you to think about those who have been wrongfully persecuted, to remember that not everyone who has made mistakes in life deserves to have their entire existence judged by a single action or a few mistakes," she concluded.
Recently, new developments have emerged connecting Diddy to the unresolved murder case of Tupac Shakur. Reports suggest that the family of Tupac has hired high-profile attorney Alex Spiro to investigate potential links between Diddy and the 1996 murder of the rap legend. During the height of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry, Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting, a crime that remains unsolved to this day.
Compton Crips gang member Duane Keith "Keffe D" Davis, who was arrested in September 2023, has alleged that Diddy offered $1 million for a hit on Shakur.
Diddy remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after being denied bail twice. His legal team is preparing for what promises to be a high-profile trial.
