Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been cleared of sex trafficking charges by a U.S. federal court but found guilty of soliciting prostitution, bringing a dramatic legal chapter to a close. The highly publicised trial, which has drawn intense media attention for months, centred on allegations that Combs operated a network facilitating sex trafficking under the guise of his music empire and private events.
The jury, after nearly two weeks of deliberations, ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove Combs engaged in sex trafficking. However, they found him guilty of soliciting prostitution, a lesser charge that still carries legal consequences. The court's full judgement acknowledged “serious lapses in judgement and ethical boundaries” on Combs' part but clarified that these actions did not meet the legal threshold for organised sex trafficking.
Combs, 54, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, labelling the accusations as "false and politically motivated." His legal team expressed partial relief at the verdict while signalling their intention to appeal the prostitution conviction.
The case has reignited debates about celebrity privilege, accountability, and the blurred lines between entertainment, consent, and exploitation in the music industry. Sentencing for the prostitution charge is expected later this month.
