Janice Smalls Combs, the mother of rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, recently spoke out in defense of her son amidst serious sexual assault and trafficking allegations.
Diddy, 55, is currently detained at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution.
On Oct. 1, attorney Tony Buzbee disclosed that an additional 120 individuals, 25 of whom are minors, have brought forward lawsuits against Diddy, alleging sex crimes dating back to 1991, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In light of these allegations, Janice, aged 84, made a public statement through her attorney, Natlie G. Figgers, asserting her son’s right to a fair trial. The statement, released on Instagram by the Figgers Law Firm on Oct. 6, expressed her anguish over the accusations against her son and emphasized his entitlement to defend himself in court.
“It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies,” she said. “To bear witness to what seems to be 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.”
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| American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and his mother Janice Smalls Combs at the 2022 BET Awards. Photo from Instagram |
This comes after Diddy settled a lawsuit in November 2023 with his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, who had accused him of rape and abuse. Although initially denying the allegations, Diddy apologized in May after video footage surfaced of him assaulting Ventura in a 2016 Los Angeles hotel, as reported by CNN.
Janice also speculated that the accusers might be motivated by financial gain, rather than justice, influenced by the quick settlement in the previous lawsuit.
She concluded by asserting that her son is not “the monster they have painted him to be” and expressed hope that the truth will prevail and he will be exonerated.
Despite Janice’s fervent defense, public sentiment in the comments sections of news outlets has been largely unsympathetic, with many expressing that Diddy should be held accountable for his actions.
One NY Post reader wrote: “Diddy’s behavior is indefensible, and her attempts to justify them are just as bad. The public is discussing this because they believe it’s time for Diddy to be held accountable for his actions and face the consequences of his disturbing actions.”
Diddy, who founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, was instrumental in making hip hop a global phenomenon. By 2013, he was ranked as the world’s wealthiest rapper, before being surpassed by Jay-Z and Kanye West. Throughout his career, Diddy has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Music Awards.
Though he has never married, Diddy has seven children with four different women and has amassed significant wealth through his business ventures, with Forbes estimating his net worth at approximately $1 billion in 2022.
