Sean “Diddy” Combs made an emotional plea for “mercy” in a letter submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian on the eve of his sentencing.
“First and foremost, I want to apologize and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct,” Diddy, 55, wrote in the letter obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, October 2, ahead of his sentencing on two prostitution-related charges on Friday, October 3.
Diddy continued, “I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs. This has been the hardest 2 years of my life, and I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself. In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them. I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough, as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”
Diddy went on to apologize for his 2016 physical assault of ex-girlfriend Cassie, footage of which was first published by CNN in May 2024.
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“The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily. I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved,” he told the judge. “I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.”
Diddy sought “mercy” from Subramanian not only for himself “but for the sake of my children.”
“I lost my way. I got lost in my journey. Lost in the drugs and the excess. My downfall was rooted in my selfishness,” he wrote, going on to say he has been “humbled” by his stint in prison following his September 2024 arrest on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. (Diddy has maintained his innocence and denied all charges against him.)
The letter continued, “Since incarceration, I have gone through a spiritual reset. I’m on a journey that will take time and hard work. I’m proud to say I’m working harder than I ever have before. I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person.”
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“I humbly ask you for another chance — another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life,” he concluded. “I am writing this not to gain any sympathy or pity, this experience is simply the truth of my existence and has changed my life forever and I will never commit a crime again.”
Diddy is due to be sentenced in New York on Friday following his July conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. (He was cleared of two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy at trial.)
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of just over 11 years in prison. Diddy’s lawyers, however, have argued he should serve 14 months followed by a supervised release with mandatory drug treatment and therapy.
