Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 50 months in prison after a Manhattan judge found him guilty of prostitution-related offenses, condemning his violent history of abuse and declaring him a danger to society.
The 55-year-old producer appeared in court on Friday, where Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the sentence in front of Diddy’s tearful family members. The ruling marks a stunning collapse for the once-celebrated music and fashion icon.
In a scathing rebuke, Judge Subramanian said Diddy’s treatment of women, particularly his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, left “irreparable harm” that could not be ignored.
“This court is not inclined to nullify anything at this stage whether done before or now. This is a political case.
“I am not taking any interlocutory matter,” he said.
The judge further accused Combs of being “savage” and “unrepentant,” adding: “Deterrence requires a significant sentence.” He noted that Diddy even organized so-called “freak offs” after federal search warrants and public scandals had already exposed his conduct.
Combs remained silent and motionless throughout, staring straight ahead as the judge listed the ways he had abused his victims “physically, emotionally, and psychologically.”
The sentencing hearing was tense and unpredictable. Early in the day, Judge Subramanian ruled that he would take into account evidence from sex trafficking and racketeering allegations, despite Diddy having been acquitted of those charges in July. That decision dramatically raised the stakes for the defense.
A courtroom sketch artist captured Combs with a haunted expression, comparing his look to the famous Scream painting as the realization of a lengthy prison term sank in.
Prosecutors accused him of arrogance, revealing that he had already scheduled speaking engagements in Miami for Monday — as if he was certain he would walk free.
In a desperate plea, his lawyer Nicole Westmoreland broke down in tears, asking the judge to consider Diddy’s achievements. She cited his 2004 Menswear Designer of the Year award from the American Fashion Council as proof of his influence.
“It wasn’t just about an award, it was about breaking barriers,” Westmoreland said through tears.
But the judge was unmoved. With the gavel’s strike, Combs’ long reign as one of the most powerful men in entertainment ended with a prison sentence that prosecutors say will serve as a warning to others.
The verdict seals a dramatic downfall for the rapper, entrepreneur, and cultural figure once known for his success in music, fashion, and business.
