Diddy's Mother Says Mogul 'Made Mistakes' But Is 'No Monster'

Sean "Diddy" Combs and his mother Janice Combs at the 2022 BET Awards on June 26, 2022 in Los Angeles.Photo byShutterstock

Sean "Diddy" Combs' mother is voicing support for the embattled music mogul as he faces federal trafficking charges and a growing number of civil lawsuits alleging abuse.

Janice Combs issued a statement on behalf of the Combs family through her attorney, Natlie G. Figgers, on Sunday, Oct. 6.

“I come to you today as a mother that is devastated and profoundly saddened by the allegations made against my son, Sean Combs. It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies,” read the statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

Related: '12,000 Calls' Made to Diddy Abuse Claim Hotline in 24 Hours, Attorney Says

Janice Combs also referenced the since-deleted statement Diddy posted on Instagram in December 2023, saying he "did not do any of the awful things being alleged" in lawsuits filed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and other accusers.

Then in May, CNN aired video of the mogul physically attacking Ventura in a Los Angeles in 2016. Janice Combs acknowledged that her son lied about the hotel incident, but said that doesn't prove he is guilty of the charges against him.

“My son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things, such as denying he has ever gotten violent with an ex-girlfriend when the hotel’s surveillance showed otherwise,” she said. “Sometimes, the truth and a lie become so closely intertwined that it becomes terrifying to admit one part of the story, especially when that truth is outside the norm or is too complicated to be believed. This is why I believe my son’s civil legal team opted to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit instead of contesting it until the end, resulting in a ricochet effect as the federal government used this decision against my son by interpreting it as an admission of guilt.”

She added: "These lies thrown at him are motivated by those seeking a financial gain, and not justice."

Federal agents arrested the Bad Boy Records founder on Sept. 16 at a hotel in New York City.

The next day, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the mogul had been charged with three federal counts.

Diddy has denied all of the allegations against him, including the claims made by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who on Oct. 1 announced he's preparing 120 more lawsuits against the mogul.

The rapper and producer is currently jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City awaiting trial. He has been denied bail twice and is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 9.

Read the full statement below from Diddy's mother Janice Combs:

“I come to you today as a mother that is devastated and profoundly saddened by the allegations made against my son, Sean Combs. It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies. To bear witness what seems to be like a public lynching of my son before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words. Like every human being, my son deserves to have his day in court, to finally share his side, and to prove his innocence.

I am not here to portray my son as perfect because he is not. He has made mistakes in his past, as we all have. My son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things, such as denying he has ever gotten violent with an ex-girlfriend when the hotel’s surveillance showed otherwise. Sometimes, the truth and a lie become so closely intertwined that it becomes terrifying to admit one part of the story, especially when that truth is outside the norm or is too complicated to be believed. This is why I believe my son’s civil legal team opted to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit instead of contesting it until the end, resulting in a ricochet effect as the federal government used this decision against my son by interpreting it as an admission of guilt.

It is important to recognize that none of us, regardless of our status, are immune to fear or mistakes. Not being entirely straightforward about one issue does not mean my son is guilty of the repulsive allegations and the grave charges leveled against him. Many individuals who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated had their freedom taken from them not because they were guilty of the crimes they were accused of, but because they didn’t fit the image of what this society considers to be a “good person.” History has showed us how individuals can be wrongfully convicted due to their past actions or mistakes.

Watching the world make jokes and laugh at my son’s life crumbling before our eyes is something I can never forget. It is truly agonizing to watch the world turn against my son so quickly and easily over lies and misconceptions, without ever hearing his side or affording him the opportunity to present his side. These lies thrown at him are motivated by those seeking a financial gain, and not justice. These individuals saw how quickly my son’s civil legal team settled his ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit, so they believe they can receive a quick payday by falsely accusing my son. False allegations of sexual assault thwart true victims of sexual violence from getting the justice they deserve. To make matters worse, the federal government is now using these lies to prosecute my son. This injustice has been unbearable for our family. The worst part of this ordeal is watching my beloved son be stripped of his dignity, not for what he did, but for what people choose to believe about him.

I ask his supporters, fans, colleagues, friends, and the public, to not judge him before you’ve had the chance to hear his side. I beg you to think about those who have been wrongfully persecuted, to remember that not everyone who has made mistakes in life deserves to have their entire existence judged by a single action or a few mistakes. My son is not the monster they have painted him to be, and he deserves the chance to tell his side. I can only pray that I am alive to see him speak his truth and be vindicated.”

Respectfully submitted on the behalf of Janice Smalls Combs and the Combs’ family,
The Law Office of Natlie G. Figgers, LLC. /s/ NATLIE G. FIGGERS, ESQUIRE
Florida Bar No. 1009125
Counsel for Ms. Janice Smalls Combs