In The Court Of Public Opinion, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Has Already Lost

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is just getting started, but there is not going to be any redemption for the rapper, record producer, and record executive, even if he isn’t convicted.

Diddy has pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment that could land him in prison for at least fifteen years if he is convicted of crimes that include sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

On Monday, May 12, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson told a Manhattan jury that they were going to “hear about 20 years” of his crimes, in comments transcribed by The Hollywood Reporter. Some of those crimes included kidnapping, arson, drugs, bribery, obstruction, and sex crimes.

Diddy’s own defense team, led by lawyer Teny Geragos, called Diddy “a complicated man,” and admitted that the case “is about love, jealousy, infidelity, and money.” He admitted that Diddy’s violent outbursts were often fueled by alcohol, jealousy, and drug use, and that may warrant domestic violence charges, but insisted that he did not engage in sex trafficking.

It is widely expected that a large portion of the trial will consist of his “freak off” parties, which involved drug-fueled sexual encounters. While Diddy claims that these sexual encounters were all consensual, the burden of the prosecution is to prove otherwise. Johnson alleged that Diddy often used violence to keep women “in line” by choking them, hitting them, kicking them, or dragging them by the hair.

The leaked footage of Diddy kicking his ex-girlfriend Cassie is largely expected to take center stage at the trial. Johnson told the jury on Monday that Diddy once kidnapped an employee at gunpoint to find her, and once he did, he “beat her brutally, kicking her in the back and flinging her around like a rag doll.”

During the opening statements, Johnson alleged that Combs told an escort to urinate in Cassie’s mouth, which made her feel “like she was choking,” according to People magazine. Cassie is going to testify under her own name, but Johnson warned jurors that her story was “just the tip of the iceberg.”

A woman known only as Jane claims that she was beaten by Diddy last year after she confronted him about the “freak offs.” However, Geragos argued that it was a “toxic and dysfunctional relationship” and that Jane only consensually participated in the “freak offs” because she wanted to spend time with the music mogul.

In May 2024, Diddy posted an apology video two days after CNN published the executive hotel surveillance video, which took place in 2016.

“My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” he said in a statement posted on Instagram. “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”

“I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry,” he concluded. “But I’m committed to being a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

He had previously denied Cassie’s assault allegations, but quickly settled a lawsuit she brought against him. The terms of that settlement have not been disclosed.

Although Diddy's attorney can claim that the violence towards Cassie was "mutual," nothing is going to bring back Diddy's reputation. During the trial, potential jurors were asked about celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Kanye West, and Kid Cudi. Although these celebrities may not be called to testify, it's hard to imagine that any celebrity is going to want to associate with him going forward.

Diddy also previously denied that he had assaulted Cassie until CNN published the footage from the hotel surveillance cameras. While the authenticity of that footage is something that is going to be debated during the trial - and almost wasn't included - he later fessed up to it, calling his actions "inexcusable" and admitting that he was "disgusted" with himself.

But that's the point of this trial. Were Diddy's "freak offs" and sexual encounters consensual? He says they were, but he already lied once. After listening to the graphic stories from the victims, it seems pretty clear who the jury is going to believe.