Diddy spoke for the first time in his sex crimes trial. Here’s what the rapper said
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been in court for close to three weeks for his federal sex trafficking trial in NYC.
Up until Tuesday, the embattled rapper let his lawyers do the talking.
According to People magazine, before testimony wrapped for the day, he addressed the gallery, uttering just four words: “I love you all.”
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“Love” has been an ongoing theme for the hip-hopper for a few years now when he officially changed his moniker on social media.
The 55-year-old told UK chat show host Graham Norton why he chose this new persona back in 2023.
“For me, my real life is my art,” Combs said. “There’s been different eras: The Puff Daddy era, the P. Diddy era. I dropped the P, then there was the Diddy era. Now, this is the ultimate goal. I have become LOVE!”
“OK!” Norton said. “Do I call you ‘Love,’ or no?”
“See, this is where it gets confusing,” Combs answered to laughs. “Y’all call me Diddy, but when I’m bein’ Love and I’m in that mood — coz’ I always have to remind myself we live in a toxic world and it’s love vs hate. That’s what’s going on. Love wins! Let’s go!”
Back to the present day: People magazine adds that Combs also spoke directly to a woman in the courtroom, telling her, “Please let Justin know I’m thinking of him.”
It’s unclear to whom the entertainment mogul was referring but one has to assume it’s his oldest son, Justin Combs (mom is Diddy’s ex, stylist Misa Hylton). Last year, the 31-year-old was named as a co-defendant in the bombshell $30 million lawsuit filed by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, which kicked off the entire federal investigation.
Justin has been dragged into the muck since March 2024, when he was briefly detained at his father’s L.A. mansion the day of the feds’ raid (the rap star’s Star Island mansion got hit up by Homeland Security, too).
No hard feelings, though. According to widespread reports, the actor/model has been attending Combs’ trial, along with his siblings and grandmother.
Another possibility: Combs could be talking about Justin Bieber, a former protégé. Since the scandal broke, rumor has it that the 31-year-old pop star had his own story of abuse to tell.
But the “Baby” singer’s reps released a statement saying that was not the case.
“Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him,” a spokesperson told TMZ last week. “Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”
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