Federal prosecutors took a major L when the jury returned the verdict for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on July 2. He was acquitted of the most serious charges, sex trafficking and racketeering. Still, the mixed result could send Combs to prison for as long as a decade. In the meantime, celebrities are seemingly creeping into the spotlight with cryptic and direct messages about Diddy’s verdict. So far on the list: Janice and Christian Combs, Yung Miami, Aubrey O’Day, Boosie, Dawn Richard, comedian Luenell, and even Combs’ co-parent Misa Hylton.
RELATED: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Guilty On Prostitution Charges, Not Guilty On Sex Trafficking & Racketeering (LIVE UPDATES)
Inside The Courtroom After Diddy’s Verdict
As mentioned, Sean Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act. But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Those charges were related to allegations that he used his money, power, and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fueled sex marathons with the men. Combs’ defense team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.
After hearing the verdict, Diddy held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at jury and hugged his defense lawyer Teny Geragos. Combs’ relatives and supporters in the audience could barely contain their relief, per The Associated Press. The judge had warned about outbursts, but when the foreperson read the first “not guilty” aloud, someone shouted, “Yeah!” Meanwhile, Diddy later continued to pump his right fist.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian was weighing whether to free Diddy on bail after the verdict. He adjourned the court while he considered the matter. In response, Combs wiped his face, turning and kneeling at his chair, his head bowed in prayer. In the audience, his relatives stood and applauded as he faced them.
“I’ll be home soon,” he said, and “I love you, baby.” He added, “I love you, Mom,” he added. His relatives applauded him and his lawyers as he was led out of court.
Associated Press Staff Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister and Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
Janice Combs Speaks To Diddy Supporters Outside
While awaiting word about Diddy’s bail hearing, Janice Combs showed some love to her son’s supporters outside the courthouse on Wednesday. She showed up in white pants, a blue-and-white print blouse, and dark sunglasses. Mama Combs had a smile on her face as she blew kisses to the supporters, gave them thumbs up, and thanked them. Meanwhile, the crowd chanted “Free Puff.”
At other times outside, the crowd doused themselves in baby oil, and one woman even exposed her breasts while wearing teeny shorts, per video obtained, viewed, and censored by The Shade Room.
Christian Combs Dances & Does Push-Ups After Verdict
Christian, son of the late Kim Porter, has shown up for his father at several court proceedings. That was also the case on Wednesday for the long-awaited verdict, which came three days into deliberations. Outside the courthouse, the 27-year-old didn’t hold back his excitement over what the jury had settled on. He held hands and smiled near a black truck as he danced with his girlfriend, Raven Tracy. She celebrated her birthday this week, and Christian surprised her at her beachside party. On Wednesday, King was also seen dancing and doing shirtless push-ups.
Yung Miami Turns Heads With THIS Post
As the verdict broke, Diddy’s former boo, Yung Miami, took to Instagram with a wordless post. Several videos have been going around of Justin Bieber, including him doing the popular two-finger clapping with a smile. That’s the one Caresha reshared on her Instagram Story on Wednesday. A few minutes later, she posted photos of what looks like her Harvard coursework. On X? Silence.
Will Yung Miami speak directly about Diddy or his verdict? Only time will tell. The last time she opened up about their dealings was on her podcast, ‘Caresha Please,’ in August 2024, the month before his arrest in a Manhattan hotel. She spoke about the pressure to speak out amid Diddy’s piling sexual assault lawsuits and allegations.
“I can’t speak on something that wasn’t my experience. And I can’t speak on something I don’t know. I can’t speak on these allegations because I wasn’t around at the time. I don’t know that person and that wasn’t my experience.”
She said ending the relationship was painful, but she wanted to focus on herself. Still, to her, Puff was “a really good person,” who helped, elevated, and saw a lot of things in her. In her words, Sean Combs even brought out her “gentle side.” However, after Diddy’s arrest and in the last eight weeks of his trial, Yung Miami hasn’t spoken on the man she was going hard for a few years ago. The one exception was her clocking a social media user in June who said she’s “missing that Diddy” money.
#1
Aubrey O'Day Watches Diddy Trial Verdict On TV
Aubrey O’Day, a longtime critic and former artist of Diddy’s, watched the verdict breakdown on CNN. She shared the moment with her Instagram followers. Her first verbal reaction was “Oh my God.” She said she felt “physically ill,” and predicted that Cassie probably feels “so horrible.”
Days before the verdict, she spoke about wanting to see the producer serve time for “all the crimes [she] knows are true.” If he’s freed, she joked about moving to Bali. However, she also emphasized that “if he were to walk free, he’s coming after everybody.”
Her friend, Cassie Ventura, shared a similar sentiment in her lawyer Douglas Wigdor’s letter to the judge presiding over Diddy’s trial. It stated: “…and Ms. Ventura believes Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community.”
#2
Misa Hylton Shares Message About Silence After Diddy's Verdict
Misa Hylton, the mother of Justin Combs, also posted a nameless message on social media shortly after news of Diddy’s verdict broke. On IG Stories, she reposted a tweet that read: “Underrated life skill: Knowing when to let your silence say everything.”
She has not shared any additional statements or addressed the verdict head-on. In May, after showing up to Diddy’s trial with a walker, she told The Shade Room that she attended in support of her son after he called her.
Before that, she shared a message uplifting Cassie for having to “relive the horror of her abuse.” However, she also credited the women who raised Diddy’s kids, saying they must also support the twins, D’Lila and Jessie, who lost their mother, Kim Porter. As for Combs, Misa said she hopes he “truly does the personal work and receives it.”
#3
Boosie Claims It's A "Great Day In Hip Hop"
Unlike the others, Boosie jumped the gun a lil’ bit with his take on Diddy’s verdict. In a social media video, he said he’s glad the producer is free. To clarify, Combs has not yet been released despite the mixed verdict. The rapper expressed that he’s happy the trial is wrapped.
“…the reason is because I’m tired of seeing us Black mogul get took down like that man. And I’m tired us Black people go against us Black moguls like that and I feel like if Diddy was a white man who done all sh*t to people…if he was white, they would’ve had so many white people out there protesting for this man losing his life over a relationship…”
Additionally, Boosie’s IG caption said, “GREAT DAY N HIP HOP!! DIDDY NOT GUILTY.” See what else he said, including his comments about keeping Diddy’s kids in mind.
#4
Luenell Slams Diddy's Verdict & People "Cheering" For Him
Jurors sat through seven weeks of bombshell testimony centered on Diddy’s sexual escapades in the last 20 years. Still, only one charge and two counts under it stuck. Amid other celebrity reactions, comedian Luenell didn’t hold back her thoughts on how things played out for prosecutors.
“SO…..LADIES, we’re dead in the water. People are CHEERING for this nasty…uhm…Man. Nobody and I mean nobody cares about what men do to women. It’s sad AF to me! All his enablers and helpers they just get to skip away scott free. Hurry, run and get your baby oil and let the ‘freak offs’ begin again,” she wrote in an Instagram-feed post.”
She shared the same statement on her Instagram Stories, but added an extra post on there that read: “Excuse me, but what is everybody CHEERING THA FUK ABOUT??? Like seriously??? #DiddysA*s”
#5
Dawn Richard's Lawyer Shares Statement On Verdict & Lawsuit
Dawn Richard is also among the celebrities who have publicly shared a reaction to Diddy’s verdict. Her lawyer, Lisa Bloom, told TMZ on verdict day that the two-count conviction was a “disappointment.” The singer was one of 34 witnesses the prosecution called to the stand. Her testimony centered on her eyewitness accounts of Diddy being physically and verbally abusive towards Cassie.
Despite Diddy’s verdict, Bloom assured the outlet that Dawn Richard is pushing forward with her lawsuit. In September, Dawn sued her former bandmate and boss on ‘Making the Band’ for sexual abuse, assault, and made allegations of a toxic workplace while filming the series.
“We will continue to aggressively fight our case until we obtain full and complete justice for Dawn,” Bloom told TMZ.
#6
Singer Kesha Reacts To Combs' Trial Outcome
Kesha hasn’t been shy about her distaste for Diddy since the video surfaced of him beating Cassie in a hotel hallway while they were dating. At Coachella last April, the singer sang an edited version of ‘TiK ToK,’ saying, “Wake up in the morning like f*ck P. Diddy.” The switch-up caused a viral conversation, but Sean never weighed in.
On Wednesday, after the verdict in the federal trial, she shared a message aimed at Cassie on X. “Cassie I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for very survivor,” she wrote.
Cassie’s attorney released a similar but longer statement on Wednesday praising his client’s strength in recalling her story on the stand. Later in the day, she submitted a statement to the court asking for his bond to be denied out of fear for her safety and that of others.
