October 7th 2024.
Janice Small Combs, the mother of superstar Sean "Diddy" Combs, has spoken out in defense of her son amidst his ongoing legal troubles. Sean is currently in federal custody awaiting trial for his indictment in the Southern District of New York on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to these allegations.
In addition to his criminal case, Sean is also facing multiple civil lawsuits that accuse him of various forms of sexual misconduct and other illegal activities. Janice released a statement through her attorney on Sunday, which was shared on social media. She began by expressing her devastation and profound sadness over the allegations made against her son.
Janice went on to say that it is heartbreaking to see her son being judged not for the truth, but for a narrative that has been created out of lies. She believes that the public is unfairly targeting her son before he has had a chance to prove his innocence, and this has caused her immeasurable pain.
The case has brought attention to Sean's alleged lifestyle away from the public eye. In the federal indictment, prosecutors mention Sean's alleged "Freak Offs," which refers to elaborate sex performances where he is accused of drugging and coercing victims into performing extended sex acts with male sex workers. These alleged incidents are said to have started around 2009.
Janice also addressed a surveillance video obtained by CNN that showed Sean assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. She acknowledged that her son may not have been entirely truthful about the incident, as the video showed otherwise. She believes that sometimes the truth and a lie can become so intertwined that it becomes difficult to admit the truth, especially when it is outside of the norm or too complicated to be believed.
Initially, Sean denied the allegations of abuse made by Ventura in a lawsuit she filed before the video was made public. However, he later apologized for his actions, stating that he was disgusted by his behavior and sought professional help through therapy and rehab.
Janice believes that her son's civil legal team chose to settle Ventura's lawsuit instead of fighting it, and this decision was used against him by the federal government as an admission of guilt. She wants people to understand that regardless of one's status, everyone is capable of making mistakes and that not being entirely honest about one issue does not mean that her son is guilty of the serious allegations and charges that have been brought against him.
Recently, attorney Tony Buzbee announced that he and the AVA Law Group have been retained by at least 120 additional men and women to pursue cases against Sean in civil court. CNN reached out to Sean's attorneys for comment on his mother's statement.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault or violence, please reach out to 1800RESPECT for support and resources.
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