Trigger Warning: This article discusses alleged sexual assault and sex trafficking.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ mother Janice Small Combs has released a statement defending her son following the news that 120 more allegations are set to be levelled against the media mogul.
The statement was shared on Sunday October 6 via her attorney Natlie G. Figgers, and speaks for the entire Combs family, marking the first time any member of Combs’ family has spoken publicly since his arrest last month.
Janice Combs called on the public to allow her son to have “his day in court”, likening the media coverage of her son’s case to “a public lynching.”
“It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies,” she said in the statement, which was shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
“To bear witness 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. Like every human being, my son deserves to have his day in court, to finally share his side, and to prove his innocence.”
The statement comes just five days after it was announced that 120 alleged victims have come forward with allegations they claim were committed between 1991 and now, involving accusers who were as young as nine at the time.
Janice Combs Speaks About Her Son’s Imperfect Past
In reference to the 2023 case with ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who accused the rapper of rape and abuse, Janice Combs acknowledged the public fallout that occurred after the rapper was proven to have lied about Cassie’s claims against him. She went on say that she believes that settlement led to a “ricochet effect” of “repulsive allegations.”
“My son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things, such as denying he has ever gotten violent with an ex-girlfriend when the hotel’s surveillance showed otherwise,” she said.
“Sometimes, the truth and a lie become so closely intertwined that it becomes terrifying to admit one part of the story, especially when that truth is outside the norm or is too complicated to be believed. This is why I believe my son’s civil legal team opted to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit instead of contesting it until the end, resulting in a ricochet effect as the federal government used this decision against my son by interpreting it as an admission of guilt.”
Does Janice Combs’ Statement Defend Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?
Additionally, Combs’ mother stated that she believes the ongoing allegations against her son are financially motivated.
“These lies thrown at him are motivated by those seeking a financial gain, and not justice,” she said.
“These individuals saw how quickly my son’s civil legal team settled his ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit, so they believe they can receive a quick payday by falsely accusing my son. False allegations of sexual assault thwart true victims of sexual violence from getting the justice they deserve. To make matters worse, the federal government is now using these lies to prosecute my son. This injustice has been unbearable for our family. 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.”
Janice Combs’ Believes Charges Against Her Son Are False
Attempting to convince the public of her son’s innocence, Janice Combs pleaded with the public to reserve their judgment when considering the “repulsive allegations and the grave charges leveled against him.”
“Many individuals who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated had their freedom taken from them not because they were guilty of the crimes they were accused of, but because they didn’t fit the image of what this society considers to be a ‘good person,’” she continued. “History has showed us how individuals can be wrongfully convicted due to their past actions or mistakes.”
As further scrutiny continues to surround Combs’ past relationships with high profile celebrities, and new details emerge in relation to his infamous white parties, the rapper continues to deny all allegations against him – a stance echoed by his mother.
“Watching the world make jokes and laugh at my son’s life crumbling before our eyes is something I can never forget,” she states. “It is truly agonizing to watch the world turn against my son so quickly and easily over lies and misconceptions, without ever hearing his side or affording him the opportunity to present his side.”
Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs is currently awaiting trial after pleading ‘not guilty’ to federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
