Sean Diddy Combs under suicide watch; awaits trial amid sex trafficking charges - here's all you need to know

Sean Diddy

Two years ago, the renowned rapper and business magnate Sean "Diddy" Combs celebrated his 53rd birthday with a grandiose party at his $61 million mansion in Beverly Hills. The event was a star-studded affair with guests like Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Mary J Blige, Kehlani, Tinashe, Chris Brown, and Machine Gun Kelly. This celebration also marked his 30th anniversary in the music industry, a period during which he established an entertainment empire and significantly influenced the hip-hop genre, both as a performer and a producer for top artists like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and The Notorious B.I.G.

Fast forward to 2024, and Combs' illustrious career is facing significant turmoil. He has been embroiled in a series of legal battles involving serious allegations of kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into sexual acts, sometimes involving firearms and threats of violence. In March, his Beverly Hills mansion, once the site of his lavish birthday party, was raided by police. Authorities confiscated materials allegedly intended for drug-fueled orgies, including drugs and over 1000 bottles of baby oil. Combs has vehemently denied all charges, pleading not guilty on September 17, 2024.

The controversy began to unfold on November 16, 2023, when Cassie Ventura, a singer and model who had an on-and-off relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018, filed a civil lawsuit. Ventura's suit accused Combs of violent abuse and detailed coercive and manipulative behaviours, including forcing women into drug-fueled sexual parties known as "freak offs," which he allegedly filmed for his personal enjoyment. Despite Combs' strong denial and accusations of extortion against Ventura, the lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount shortly after it was filed.

Following Ventura's lawsuit, several more women came forward with allegations against Combs. Between November and December 2023, multiple lawsuits were filed accusing him of sexual assault, some dating back to the early 1990s. These allegations included claims of drugging, coercion, and violent assaults. One notable lawsuit involved a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleged that she was gang-raped by Combs and others when she was 17.

In response to the growing number of lawsuits, Combs took to Instagram on December 6, 2023, declaring his innocence and decrying the allegations as baseless attempts to tarnish his reputation and extort money from him. Despite his public denial, the legal challenges continued to mount. In February 2024, music producer Rodney Jones Jr. accused Combs of unwanted sexual advances and attempts to groom him for sex acts.

On May 17, 2024, leaked CCTV footage showing Combs assaulting Cassie Ventura in 2016 further damaged his public image. Combs apologised for his actions in the video, acknowledging his past behaviour while maintaining his innocence regarding the broader allegations.

As the year progressed, additional lawsuits were filed, including one from former model Crystal McKinney, who accused Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2003. By July 2024, an eighth lawsuit was filed by former adult film star Adria English, who claimed Combs had groomed her into sex trafficking over several years.

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The situation culminated on September 17, 2024, when Combs was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and other serious crimes in a New York court. Prosecutors described him as the leader of a criminal enterprise that exploited women using threats of violence and drugs. Combs' lawyer argued that the "freak offs" were consensual, but the judge denied bail, citing Combs' potential to obstruct justice and his history of substance abuse.

Although unconfirmed whether Combs harbours any inclination to harm himself or how long he has been under suicide watch, the authorities deem it necessary for the moment. The USA Department of Justice states that suicide watch refers to the confinement of individuals for their protection, in this case from being a threat to themselves.

Combs is scheduled to appear in the courtroom on Tuesday, September 24 at 10 am for a conference hearing.