Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs relaxes in Central Park and snaps selfies with fans in Manhattan before arrest in NYC – as cops finally swoop on disgraced rapper amid sex trafficking probe
Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs was pictured kicking back in Central Park before walking the streets of New York City with his son Christian Combs just hours before he was arrested in a Manhattan hotel room late last night.
The rapper, clad in a long black coat over a black t-shirt with gray sweatpants and grey sneakers, was seen flashing smiles and posing for selfies with several adoring fans as he wandered the streets of midtown Manhattan, seemingly unbothered by the looming arrest and ensuing legal woes.
Christian, Combs’ 26-year-old son who performs under the moniker ‘King Combs’, was clad in a plush gray sweat suit with a grey t-shirt and white sneakers and spent quality time with his father before the rapper was arrested by Homeland Security officials on Monday evening.
Earlier in the day, a video shared on social media showed Diddy flicking through his phone and enjoying the sunshine as he sat in Central Park, wearing a baggy black vest.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Combs, 54, was apprehended in connection with a Southern District of New York-issued sealed indictment – but federal officials said they will ask a judge to unseal the indictment today.
Combs, also known as Diddy and Puff Daddy, has been in the limelight for most of the past year after he settled a lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in November of 2023, in which she claimed he engaged in sex trafficking and abused her.
A video of him attacking her in 2016 in a Los Angeles hotel room circulated this past May, leading him to say that he’d ‘hit rock bottom’ and made ‘no excuses’ for his ‘inexcusable’ conduct depicted in the clip, adding that he takes ‘full responsibility.’
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 45, was pictured hours before his arrest on a walk in midtown Manhattan with his son Christian Combs, 26, Monday
Prior to being taken into custody following an indictment from a grand jury, Combs smiled and posed for selfies with fans, seemingly unaware of the looming legal woes coming later in the evening
The musical artist was seen making a prayer gesture while chatting with fans before he was arrested
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was spotted hanging out in Central Park the day before his arrest
The rapper, 54, appeared relaxed, sitting on a knoll while park goers meandered in the sun, seemingly unbothered by the swirling controversy
Monday evening’s indictment comes less than six months after the music mogul’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by federal authorities March 25
Combs was arrested by Homeland Security officials at a midtown Manhattan hotel late Monday, law enforcement sources told TMZ, and transported to the FBI‘s Manhattan field office.
Authorities had planned on arresting Combs on Tuesday, but ‘something happened’ that caused federal officials to take him into custody earlier than planned, an official told the outlet.
Singer and reality TV star Aubrey O’Day, Combs’ one-time protégé, was one of the notable names to comment on the arrest.
‘The purpose of Justice is to provide an ending and allow us the space to create a new chapter. Women never get this. I feel validated,’ O’Day, 40, said.
‘Today is a win for women all over the world, not just me. Things are finally changing.’
Attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing one of the people suing Combs, issued the following statement Monday: ‘Given the brutal beating of Sean Combs’ girlfriend caught on video and the eight people who have now accused him of abuse in court filings, including my brave client Dawn Richard, this arrest seems long overdue.
‘It’s a big, moving day for victims, but an arrest is only the beginning. May justice be delivered to Mr. Combs. We implore other accusers to come forward in solidarity and join us in this fight.’
Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo released a statement to DailyMail.com which read: ‘We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
‘Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.
‘He is an imperfect person but he [is] not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.
Agnifilo added: ‘Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.’
Combs’ one-time protégé Aubrey O’Day was one of the notable names to comment on the arrest
Attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing one of the people suing Combs, issued the following statement Monday, saying the arrest was ‘long overdue’
CNN alum Don Lemon also commented on Monday evening’s developments
Combs, who has also been known as Diddy and Puff Daddy, was smiling as he posed with fans
Diddy has been in the limelight for most of the past year, after he swiftly settled a lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in November of 2023, in which she claimed he engaged in sex trafficking and abused her
Monday evening’s indictment comes less than six months after the music mogul’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by federal authorities March 25.
Federal officials also conducted a thorough search of the hotel room in which they apprehended Combs, according to TMZ.
Combs, then known as Puff Daddy, was at the center of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop battles of the 1990s as the partner and producer of the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot and killed in 1997.
But like many of those who survived the era, his public image had softened with age into a genteel host of parties in Hollywood and the Hamptons, a fashion-forward businessman, and a doting father who spoiled his kids, some of whom lost their mother in 2018.
But a different image began emerging in November, when his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, became the first of several people to sue him for sexual abuse with stories of a steady stream of sex workers in drug-fueled settings where some of those involved were coerced or cajoled into sex.
A Beverly Hills mansion owned by the musical mogul was raided nearly six months back
A video of him attacking Cassie in 2016 in a Los Angeles hotel room circulated this past May
He said after the release of the clip that he’d ‘hit rock bottom’ and made ‘no excuses’ for his ‘inexcusable’ conduct depicted in the clip, adding that he takes ‘full responsibility’
In her November lawsuit, Cassie alleged years of abuse, including beatings and rape.
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Her suit also alleged Combs engaged in sex trafficking by ‘requiring her to engage in forced sexual acts in multiple jurisdictions’ and by engaging in ‘harboring and transportation of Plaintiff for purposes of sex induced by force, fraud, or coercion.’
It also said he compelled her to help him traffic male sex workers Combs would force Cassie to have sex with while he filmed.
The lawsuit was settled with staggering speed – within 24 hours.
The terms of the agreement were kept confidential, with Combs declaring in a statement: ‘We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.’
But just days later, two more women accused Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits filed on the eve of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law permitting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action regardless of the statute of limitations.
The lawsuits, filed by Joi Dickerson and another woman who was not named, alleged acts of sexual assault, beatings and forced drugging in the early 1990s by Combs, then a talent director, party promoter and rising figure in New York City’s hip-hop community.
The allegations caused Combs to lose lingering allies and supporters.
Combs posted a social media video apologizing, saying ‘I was disgusted when I did it’ and ‘I’m disgusted now’
Cassie’s lawsuit was followed by at least a half-dozen others in the ensuing months.
In February, a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.
Another of Combs’ accusers was a woman who said the rap producer raped her two decades ago when she was 17.
One woman who filed a lawsuit, April Lampos, said she was a college student in 1994 when she met Combs and a series of ‘terrifying sexual encounters’ with the rapper and those around him began that lasted for years.
Combs and his attorneys have denied nearly all of the lawsuits’ allegations.
But the rapper’s legal woes compounded in March when Homeland Security Investigations served search warrants in early morning raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami in a sex-trafficking investigation.
Combs was at one of his homes in Miami at the time. His two sons, at his home in Los Angeles, were also handcuffed during the search.
The music mogul lost lingering allies, supporters and those reserving judgment when CNN in May aired a leaked video of him punching Cassie, kicking her and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway.
That video prompted Combs’ first real acknowledgement of wrongdoing since the stream of allegations began.
He posted a social media video apologizing for beating Cassie, saying ‘I was disgusted when I did it’ and ‘I’m disgusted now.’
Prior to his fall from grace, the musical artist was pictured at the 2023 VMAs
Combs had been presented with the Global Icon Award at the event in Newark, New Jersey
Combs pictured at the Met Gala in May of 2023 in NYC
Combs’ roles in his businesses beyond music – including lucrative private-label spirits, a media company and the Sean John Fashion line – took major hits when the allegations arose. Pictured in Atlanta in August of 2023
As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs became one of the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades.
Along with the Notorious B.I.G. he worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
Combs’ roles in his businesses beyond music — including lucrative private-label spirits, a media company and the Sean John Fashion line — took major hits when the allegations arose.
The consequences were even greater when the leaked beating video emerged.
Howard University cut ties with him, and he returned his key to the city of New York at the request of the mayor.
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