Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mother has spoken out against the allegations made against her son, calling them “lies”.
The musician, known for his hit songs like 1997’s I’ll Be Missing You, was arrested last month on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. He is currently being held in a Manhattan detention centre after being denied bail.
In a statement issued by her lawyer, Natlie G Figgers, Janice Small Combs defended her son, acknowledging that he has made mistakes in the past but asserting that he is not the monster portrayed in the media.
The statement comes after it was revealed that Mr Combs could face lawsuits from over 100 additional accusers for alleged sexual assault, rape, and sexual exploitation. His legal team has denied these and all previous charges, calling them “false and defamatory”.
Mr Combs has faced a number of cases since last year, including accusations from his former partner Cassie Ventura. Although he denied the allegations and settled the case out of court, he was later sued by 12 other women for drugging and assaulting them.
Federal agents raided his properties in March as part of a criminal investigation against him. In May, a video of Mr Combs physically assaulting Ms Ventura in a hotel room in 2016 was leaked to the press.
In her statement, Janice Small Combs referenced the video, acknowledging that her son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things. She expressed her belief that his civil legal team opted to settle the lawsuit to avoid further complications.
Mr Combs has previously apologized for the incident caught on film and has taken responsibility for his actions. His mother concluded her statement by asserting that one lie does not make him guilty of all the allegations against him, and she believes some accusers may be motivated by money.
Mr Combs is set to appear in court on Wednesday, 9 October, where his lawyers will argue for his release on bail. Prosecutors have argued that he poses “a significant risk” to the forthcoming trial, citing attempts to obstruct the investigation by contacting victims and witnesses.
