Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has reportedly shed significant weight while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, according to a journalist present at a hearing for his federal sex trafficking case on Wednesday.
The 55-year-old, also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy, faces over 100 sexual assault allegations and has been formally charged with sex trafficking by force, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. The music mogul has denied all accusations and entered a not guilty plea.
While no cameras were permitted into the court house, Law & Crime reporter Elizabeth Milner shared an update of Diddy’s appearance after the hearing.
“He appeared just astonishingly thinner, which you can expect [from him being] inside a federal detention centre for a couple of months now,” she said.
“A lot different from the luxury lifestyle that he was living before, but he appeared very noticeably thinner and maybe being locked up in detention is starting to wear on him.”
Milner also observed that Combs looked noticeably different from his appearance in a video that surfaced online of him playing hacky sack in Central Park just days before his September 16 arrest and noted that “he seemed a bit greyer.”
Diddy's sons, Christian and Justin, were among the small group present at Wednesday's court appearance and were pictured arriving to his trial. Combs has spent three months in federal custody and has been denied bail three times.
He faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution after a lengthy federal investigation.
During his court appearance before Judge Arun Subramanian, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson stated that certain details could not be disclosed due to the ongoing investigation.
The government confirmed plans to stick to the trial date of May 5, 2025, despite potential new charges. The judge added: "Any additional charges will have little discovery information."
Prosecutors also hinted at the possibility of further indictments in the coming months.
The Standard has contacted Diddy’s rep for comment.
Combs is one of the best-known music executives, producers and performers across hip-hop, having won three Grammys and worked with artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, the influential fashion line Sean John, a vodka brand and the Revolt TV network. He sold off his stake in the latter company in June of this year.
