Diddy’s mother issues statement on rapper’s sexual abuse allegations: “My son is not the monster they have painted him to be”

Janice Combs said witnessing “what seems to be like a public lynching” of her son “before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words”

Diddy‘s mother has issued a statement in response to the rapper’s sexual abuse allegations.

Janice Small Combs released the statement with the Hollywood Reporter yesterday (October 6) via her attorney, Natlie G. Figgers. She said it was “heartbreaking” to see her son “judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies”.

Referencing the footage obtained and published by CNN in March, which appeared to show the rapper beating his former partner, singer Cassie, she wrote: “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.

“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.”

Last month, the rap mogul was arrested in New York and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transporting for prostitution, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was denied bail and reportedly placed on suicide watch while awaiting trial, with some reports suggested that he was not eating in prison out of fear of being poisoned.

Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, later shared that an appeal against the bail denial had been filed, with the musician promising that he won’t be meeting any women apart from his family members, and that he would partake in weekly drug tests if released from prison. Diddy’s next hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (October 9).

Janice Combs’ statement comes only days after news emerged that Diddy is now also potentially facing new lawsuits from around 120 people accusing him of sexual abuse and assault, including 25 minors.

Per Rolling Stone, Texan lawyer Tony Buzbee held a virtual press conference last week where he shared that of the 120 alleged victims, 60 were men and 60 were women. Among these 120 people, 25 were minors at the time of the alleged abuse, with the youngest alleged victim aged nine-years-old.

According to Buzbee, the nine-year-old alleged victim had met with Diddy at his Bad Boy office in Manhattan for an audition and was “trying to land a record deal” in a competitive process that included “other boys” when he was allegedly sexually abused by Diddy and “several other people at the studio”.

Buzbee has reportedly acknowledged the statute of limitations, but has also said that New York and California will likely recognise the “majority” of the 120 cases. He added that all 120 alleged victims “intend to bring civil claims in civil court” against Diddy and potential co-defendants including alleged accomplices, silent bystanders and “corporate entities”.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Diddy’s lawyer Erica Wolff said the musician “emphatically and categorically denies” the allegations. “As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasised, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus,” she said.

“That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”

Read Janice Smalls Combs’ full statement below:

“I come to you today as a mother that is devastated and profoundly saddened by the allegations made against my son, Sean Combs. It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies. To bear witness what seems to be like 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.

I am not here to portray my son as perfect because he is not. He has made mistakes in his past, as we all have. 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. 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. This is why I believe my son’s civil legal team opted to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit instead of contesting it until the end, resulting in a ricochet effect as the federal government used this decision against my son by interpreting it as an admission of guilt.

It is important to recognise that none of us, regardless of our status, are immune to fear or mistakes. Not being entirely straightforward about one issue does not mean my son is guilty of the repulsive allegations and the grave charges levelled against him. Many individuals who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated had their freedom taken from them not because they were guilty of the crimes they were accused of, but because they didn’t fit the image of what this society considers to be a ‘good person’. History has showed us how individuals can be wrongfully convicted due to their past actions or mistakes.

Watching the world make jokes and laugh at my son’s life crumbling before our eyes is something I can never forget. It is truly agonising 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. These lies thrown at him are motivated by those seeking a financial gain, and not justice. These individuals saw how quickly my son’s civil legal team settled his ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit, so they believe they can receive a quick payday by falsely accusing my son. False allegations of sexual assault thwart true victims of sexual violence from getting the justice they deserve. To make matters worse, the federal government is now using these lies to prosecute my son. This injustice has been unbearable for our family. The worst part of this ordeal is watching my beloved son be stripped of his dignity, not for what he did, but for what people choose to believe about him.

I ask his supporters, fans, colleagues, friends, and the public, to not judge him before you’ve had the chance to hear his side. I beg you to think about those who have been wrongfully persecuted, to remember that not everyone who has made mistakes in life deserves to have their entire existence judged by a single action or a few mistakes. My son is not the monster they have painted him to be, and he deserves the chance to tell his side. I can only pray that I am alive to see him speak his truth and be vindicated.”

Meanwhile, as was recently confirmed by Billboard, Tupac Shakur’s family has now hired New York attorney Alex Spiro to investigate an alleged link between the rapper’s death and Diddy. Combs has never been charged in connection to the murder.

Per the Guardian, in 2008, Diddy denied any connection to the shooting after an LA Times report alleged his associates, James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond and Jimmy Sabatino, helped stage a robbery of Shakur after offering the late rapper $7,000 to record a track at the studio on the night in question.

“The story is a lie,” he said in a statement in response. “It is beyond ridiculous and completely false. Neither (the late rapper Notorious B.I.G.) nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during or after it happened. I am shocked that the Los Angeles Times would be so irresponsible as to publish such a baseless and completely untrue story.”

For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.