O.J. Simpson's Lawyer Reveals The 'Stupid' Mistake Diddy Made That Cost Him His Freedom
By Favour Adegoke on October 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM EDT

Following a grueling legal tussle relating to his criminal sex charges, Sean "Diddy" Combs was sentenced to 4 years in jail after being found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.
During the court session, the rapper maintained a composed look but became emotional when his children got the opportunity to address the court.
O.J. Simpson's attorney Alan Dershowitz has now weighed in on the case, saying Sean "Diddy" Combs made a "stupid and arrogant" mistake that cost him his freedom.
Diddy Made A 'Stupid And Arrogant' Mistake, O.J. Simpson's Lawyer Claims

While many on the internet continue to argue whether the duration of the sentence was enough punishment for Diddy, legal scholar and famed defense attorney Alan Dershowitz has blasted him for the "stupid and arrogant" mistake he made before the sentencing.
Reports shared that the rapper was making plans to pursue a public speaking engagement in another state, but the move did not sit right with the Harvard law professor, who said it was a "slap in the face" to the judge.
"I can't imagine anything more stupid than that," Dershowitz told Fox News Digital. "How anybody permitted him to do that … It's just a slap in the face to the judge. It's outrageous. I can't imagine any lawyer or any responsible person allowing … I would have quit the case."
The lawyer continued, "If I had been Diddy's lawyer and Diddy had said, 'I'm gonna make an arrangement, and I'm going to make it public.' I would've said, 'Yeah, and you're going to get a new lawyer. I'm not representing somebody who is so stupid and arrogant.'"
He added, "I mean, I'm not Dr. Kevorkian. I don't believe in walking my clients into a death chamber. And that was a kiss of death."
Diddy Was Also Fined $500,000 Along With His Prison Sentence

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the 50-month sentence to the "Finna Get Loose" rapper, also ordering five years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine.
During the court session, Diddy appeared composed. However, he broke down in tears when his ex-girlfriend Kim Porter's death came up in an 11-minute video the court played, which featured clips of him and his kids when they were younger.
When he was given the chance to speak, the Bad Boy Records founder apologized for his "sick" actions, particularly to his ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, as well as Jane Doe.
Prosecutors Demanded 11 Years For The Rapper

During his sentencing, Diddy lamented losing his freedom, businesses, opportunities, and his family, adding that he's "truly sorry for it all, no matter what they say."
The rapper faced up to 10 years in jail for each count of the prostitution related charges, and could have bagged more but for his acquittal of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence him to 11 years in jail, but his lawyers argued that he shouldn't get more than a 14-month sentence, of which he has spent more than 12 months, as he has been staying at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year.
Judge Subramanian ultimately opted for 50 months in jail; however, due to Diddy receiving time served credit, he will only spend 36 months, according to reports.
Legal Expert Thinks 11-Minute Video Was A Bad Idea

Meanwhile, the 11-minute video also didn't sit well with O.J. Simpson's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, who told Fox News that family testimony is "extremely emotional," but would often open up room for judgment.
"I would imagine there are many things that he has done that are positive," Shapiro said. "But he's got one big negative – that 11-minute video. Disappears with a 30-second video. And so a judge is weighing that, and the guidelines specifically allow for conduct not considered in the guidelines."
The legal expert also explained that it's possible Judge Subramanian already knew how he was going to sentence Diddy even before stepping into court on Friday.
"My experience is that judges in advance have a pretty good idea of what the sentence is, and they're not going to be swayed tremendously," the legal expert said.
He went on to explain that oftentimes, judges have done their due diligence before sentencing and would usually have an "outline of what he or she is going to say."
"And his were simple – What you did and your conduct, and that was the key word, substantial sentence for your conduct, not for your crime," Shapiro added, referencing Diddy's case.
Diddy Would Likely Appeal

For some, it's unlikely Diddy would accept the sentencing without some form of pushback. According to Fox News, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said that Diddy's lawyers would likely pursue an appeal, especially since a presidential pardon is unlikely to come from Donald Trump.
"This isn't the end of the legal road for Diddy, though," Rahmani said. "He can and will appeal, and he has arguments that the judge improperly calculated the guidelines and considered acquitted conduct."
"And of course, Diddy's best chance of freedom has always been a presidential pardon," the lawyer continued.
Reports had it that Trump considered the possibility of pardoning the rapper but made a 180-degree turn because of his past criticism of him.
Rahmani added, "Expect a strong lobbying effort by Diddy's team in the coming days and weeks. This story is far from over."