Credit: Diddy
The sentence, delivered by Judge Arun Subramanian last Friday, falls short of the prosecution’s request for more than eleven years—a term the judge deemed “unreasonable.” However, the imposed sentence significantly exceeded the fourteen months requested by Combs’ legal team, which would have allowed for his release this year given time already served. The prosecution had highlighted the musician’s apparent arrogance in planning several post-release performances, calling it a blatant disregard for the seriousness of his pending sentencing.
Before the sentence was handed down, Combs addressed the court, admitting that his past behavior with the women—who were compelled to perform sexual acts during events he termed “freak offs”—was “repugnant, shameful, and disgusting.” He offered apologies to his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and the other woman who testified against him, pleading with the judge to show “clemency.”
Judge Subramanian, however, focused on the severity of the abuse, stating that Combs had exploited the two women physically, emotionally, and psychologically. The judge emphasized that Combs utilized his status, noting, “He had the money and power to proceed; this was subjugation.”
Ultimately, the sentence was delivered with a broader societal message in mind. Judge Subramanian stated that Combs’ penalty should “send a message both to abusers and victims that the exploitation and violence against women are faced with real accountability,” underscoring the court’s commitment to penalizing the abuse of power.
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