Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has issued a deeply apologetic letter to the court ahead of his sentencing, acknowledging his history of abuse, addiction, and harm to women in his life.
The letter, submitted to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in New York, marks the most direct admission yet from the 55-year-old music icon, whose career has unraveled under the weight of assault allegations and federal charges.
In the letter, Combs took explicit responsibility for physically assaulting his former partner, Cassie Ventura, whose lawsuit against him in 2023 was the catalyst for a cascade of legal troubles.
“I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be,” Combs wrote.
He also addressed testimony from a woman referred to as ‘Jane,’ who told the court that she felt manipulated and harmed by him.
Combs admitted that while he once believed he was offering her support, he now recognizes through her testimony that his actions were destructive.
This unflinching acknowledgment marks a turning point in his legal narrative. For months, Combs had denied allegations of abuse, framing them as misinterpretations or opportunistic claims. In contrast, the apology letter is blunt, remorseful, and unequivocal.
Combs described his time in custody as the most challenging period of his life, calling it a forced confrontation with his past choices.
“For the first time in 25 years, I am sober,” he wrote.
He detailed a new routine inside prison walls: attending therapy, working with spiritual counselors, and participating in self-reflection. According to Combs, he has also taken steps to give back by teaching a business class to other inmates.
The letter paints a picture of a man eager to convince the court that he has undergone a transformation. He framed his sobriety and prison contributions as evidence that he is no longer the same man whose abuses were broadcast in lawsuits and leaked videos.
At the heart of Combs’s message is a plea for leniency. He asked Judge Subramanian to see him not only as someone who inflicted pain but also as someone working to repair himself.
He wrote about his family, saying he longs to return to them and resume his role as a father. He promised not to squander the opportunity if given a second chance.
“I want to be an example of redemption and transformation,” Combs declared, asking the court to grant him mercy rather than the long prison term sought by prosecutors.
While the apology letter represents Combs’s most significant public expression of contrition, reactions have been mixed.Combs’s letter arrives just before sentencing, when public displays of remorse can sway outcomes.
Judge Subramanian is expected to weigh Combs’s letter alongside victim statements and prosecutor recommendations before delivering a sentence.
The government has argued for a significant prison term, citing not only individual assaults but also a pattern of coercion and abuse.
Combs’s defense team hopes that his apology, combined with his efforts in prison, will persuade the court to impose a lighter sentence.