Janice Small Combs, mother of Sean “Diddy” Combs, has expressed her devastation over the allegations against her son, asserting that they are “lies.” The acclaimed musician, recognized for hits like the 1997 single “I’ll Be Missing You,” was arrested last month on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. He is currently being held in a Manhattan detention center after being denied bail.
In a statement released through her attorney, Natlie G Figgers, Ms. Small Combs defended her son, acknowledging his past mistakes but emphasizing that he is “not the monster they have painted him to be.” She lamented, “It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies.”
The statement follows revelations that Mr. Combs may face lawsuits from over 100 additional accusers both men and women who allege sexual assault, rape, and sexual exploitation. His legal team has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them “false and defamatory.”
The music mogul has encountered various legal issues since last year, particularly after his former partner, Cassie Ventura, accused him of rape and abuse. Although Mr. Combs denied the allegations, the case was settled out of court just a day after it was filed. Subsequently, he faced lawsuits from 12 other women, many claiming that he drugged and assaulted them.
In March, federal agents conducted raids on his properties as part of an ongoing investigation. In May, a video surfaced showing Mr. Combs physically assaulting Ms. Ventura in a hotel room in 2016.
In her statement, Ms. Small Combs addressed the leaked video, stating, “I’m not here to portray my son as perfect because he is not.” She acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting, “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 further explained the challenges of distinguishing truth from lies, stating, “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.” She suggested that her son’s civil legal team chose to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit to avoid a protracted legal battle, a decision that the federal government interpreted as an admission of guilt.
Mr. Combs has previously expressed remorse for the incident captured in the video, stating, “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
In her concluding remarks, Janice Small Combs insisted that one lie should not equate to guilt regarding the multitude of “repulsive allegations and grave charges” against him. “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,” she stated, adding her belief that some accusers may be motivated by financial gain.
Sean Combs is set to appear in court on Wednesday, October 9, where his attorneys will argue for his release on bail. Previously, he was denied bail after prosecutors asserted that he posed “a significant risk” to the integrity of the upcoming trial, claiming he had “already tried to obstruct the government’s investigation” by contacting victims and witnesses to present them with false narratives.
