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Once the flamboyant face of mainstream hip-hop, Sean “Diddy” Combs is now far removed from the glitz and glamour that defined his decades-long career. The 55-year-old music mogul, who once went by names like Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, now appears only in court—his grey hair unkempt—as he prepares to face federal sex crime charges in New York.
Jury selection begins Monday in what is expected to be a blockbuster trial, the latest development in Combs’s dramatic downfall. Once attempting to reinvent himself as “Brother Love,” Combs now faces a raft of civil lawsuits and a serious criminal indictment that paints him as a manipulative abuser who used his wealth and fame to exploit others.
Combs founded the influential Bad Boy Records in 1993, helping launch the careers of artists like the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige. Over the years, he expanded his empire through business ventures in the fashion and liquor industries, building an image of success and extravagance. Yet the federal case—and the accompanying allegations from multiple accusers—presents a starkly different image: one of a man accused of using coercion, violence and drugs to control and abuse both women and men.
While he has never been convicted of a major crime, allegations of violence and assault have trailed Combs since the 1990s.
A key figure in the upcoming trial is singer Cassie, born Casandra Ventura, who began a romantic relationship with Combs when she was 19 and he was 37. After signing her to his label, Combs reportedly subjected her to a decade of abuse, including a 2018 rape allegation, according to a civil lawsuit she filed in late 2023. Though the case was swiftly settled out of court, it opened the door to further claims—including one from a woman who accused Combs and others of gang-raping her when she was 17. Combs has denied all accusations.
Despite his denials, the mounting legal actions have cast a long shadow over Combs’s legacy.
Born Sean John Combs on 4 November 1969 in Harlem, he entered the music industry as an intern at Uptown Records in 1990 and quickly rose to become a talent director. His ability to throw extravagant parties helped shape his personal brand as much as his musical instincts did.
However, tragedy struck early in his career. In 1991, Combs organised a celebrity basketball game and concert at the City College of New York, which ended in disaster when a stampede—caused by dangerous overcrowding—killed nine people. He was later sacked from Uptown Records but soon launched Bad Boy Records, the foundation of his meteoric rise.
The label’s breakout star, The Notorious B.I.G., became a hip-hop legend before his untimely murder in 1997. Combs’s own music career followed, with hits like “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down,” “I’ll Be Missing You” (a tribute to Biggie), and “It’s All About the Benjamins” becoming staples of late-90s hip-hop.
Beyond music, Combs expanded into fashion, television, and film, while famously hosting his lavish White Parties attended by Hollywood royalty. He also dated several high-profile women, including pop icon Jennifer Lopez.
As recently as 2023, he was a regular on red carpets, including the prestigious Met Gala. This year, however, while celebrities gather for that glittering event on Monday, Combs will be in federal court as lawyers begin questioning jurors who will determine the outcome of what may be the most consequential trial of his life.
