Sean “Diddy” Combs is refusing to back down as he rejects plea deal.
Just days before jury selection is set to begin in his high-profile sex crimes trial, the 55-year-old rapper and music mogul has officially rejected a plea deal that could’ve cut his jail time. At a pre-trial hearing in New York on May 1, Diddy stood up in court and confirmed to Judge Arun Subramanian that he had read and rejected the prosecution’s offer. The exact terms weren’t made public, but prosecutors told the court he would have faced less time behind bars had he accepted it.
Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told the court they reviewed the plea together and made the decision jointly. When the judge asked Diddy if he had reviewed and rejected the plea deal himself, he calmly replied, “Yes, I did, your honor.” With that, the trial is moving forward as planned. Jury selection kicks off on May 5 at the federal court in New York, where potential jurors will be grouped in batches of 50 and questioned by both legal teams. Diddy will be present throughout, although any sensitive juror discussions will happen privately at the judge’s bench.
The courtroom wasn’t without tension. Judge Subramanian issued a warning to attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents one of the accusers, Dawn Richard. Diddy’s team flagged her recent public comments as “very disturbing,” and the judge reminded all involved that any behavior violating professional conduct rules won’t be tolerated this close to trial. He made it clear he’s not letting anything jeopardize Diddy’s right to a fair jury trial.
In a small but significant win for the rapper, the court also ruled that Diddy won’t have to wear prison-issued clothes during the proceedings. Instead, he’ll be allowed to dress in civilian clothing, limited to five button-down shirts, five pairs of pants, five sweaters, five pairs of socks, and two pairs of lace-free shoes. These clothes will be provided to him at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he’s been held without bail since his arrest back in September 2024.
Diddy continues to deny all charges against him, maintaining his innocence as he heads into what’s expected to be one of the most closely watched celebrity trials of the year. He’s clearly ready to take his chances in court rather than settle for a deal, no matter the risk. With jury selection just days away, the spotlight on this case is only getting hotter.
