Janice Combs, the mother of Diddy, has spoken out in defense of her son, stating he is “not the monster people have painted him to be.”
The rapper, arrested on September 16 for sex trafficking and racketeering, is currently in jail awaiting trial. Robyn Tarnofsky, a US magistrate judge, ordered Diddy to remain in jail after he pleaded not guilty to the federal charges outlined in a 14-page indictment.
Recently, Diddy was accused of sexually abusing 120 more individuals, including a 9-year-old boy.
In a statement through her lawyer Natlie Figgers, Janice expressed that she is “devastated and profoundly saddened by the allegations” against Diddy. She emphasized that her son is being “judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies.”
Janice also commented on the accusations involving Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie, including a hotel video showing the rapper attacking her. She pointed out that Diddy’s quick settlement of Cassie’s lawsuit, a day after it was filed, exposed him to further litigation from those seeking financial gain.
“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,” Janice said.
She added, “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.”
Janice acknowledged that her son may not have been “entirely truthful” about some matters, such as denying he was violent with an ex-girlfriend, despite hotel surveillance showing 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,” she explained.
She believes this is why Diddy’s legal team chose to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit instead of contesting it, which the federal government interpreted as an admission of guilt.
However, Janice stressed that “not being entirely straightforward about one issue does not mean my son is guilty of the repulsive allegations and the grave charges leveled against him.”
Janice expressed her frustration with the public reaction, saying, “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 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 further claimed that the accusations were financially motivated: “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.”
Janice also lamented the impact of the situation on actual victims of sexual assault, stating that “false allegations of sexual assault thwart true victims of sexual violence from getting the justice they deserve.” She added that the federal government is now using these falsehoods to prosecute Diddy.
“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,” she said.
Janice concluded by saying, “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.”
Diddy’s next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9.
