Diddy's Next Moves: Why There’s ‘No Doubt’ He'll Try for a Comeback

On the morning of July 2, inside a packed lower Manhattan courtroom, Sean “Diddy” Combs was declared not guilty on the three most serious charges against him in his high-profile sex trafficking trial. Upon hearing the verdict — he was acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy and convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — the visibly relieved music mogul (who had pled not guilty to the charges) kissed his lawyer Marc Agnifilo on the cheek and mouthed “thank you” to the jury with his hands in a prayer gesture. According to an eyewitness, the Grammy winner, 55, then got down on his knees and began sobbing and praying before clapping and kicking off “uproarious” applause from family members, friends and supporters in attendance.

Despite still facing up to 20 years in prison (10 years for each conviction), Diddy & Co. felt they had much to celebrate. After an eight-week trial during which 34 witnesses testified, including the rapper’s ex Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another ex-girlfriend, who both claimed he’d physically abused them and coerced them into taking part in days-long sexual “freak offs,” Agnifilo called the verdict a “great victory.”

Now, as he awaits his October 3 sentencing date at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he’s been since his September 2024 arrest, larger questions loom about what’s next for the father of seven. (Diddy, who was denied bail, is dad to sons Quincy, 34, Justin, 31, Christian, 27, and daughters Chance, 19, twins D’Lila and Jessie, 18, and Love, 2). The defense is seeking 21 to 27 months in jail, while the prosecution said their preliminary calculations are closer to 51 to 63 months.

Although Diddy may have prevailed legally — former federal prosecutor and legal expert Neama Rahmani calls the verdict “a complete and total failure by the prosecution” — the court of public opinion may hold more weight for the longtime entertainer. “There’s no doubt Diddy will try to make a comeback when he’s released,” says an industry insider, “but it’s going to be 
an uphill battle. Things will never be the same for him.”

Public reactions to the verdict have been mixed. Outside the courthouse on July 2, crowds clashed — some danced and handed out bottles of baby oil (law enforcement confiscated more than 1,000 bottles during their March 2024 raid on Diddy’s Miami and L.A. homes; Ventura testified that copious amounts were used during freak offs), while others expressed disappointment and outrage. Agnifilo told the AP that fellow inmates at MDC greeted Diddy with a standing ovation upon his return from court.

On social media, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day said the acquittal made her “physically ill,” while singer Kesha wrote, “Cassie, I believe you.” Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay shared a slide from a Glamour article that read: “Combs joins a long line of powerful and famous men who have allegedly engaged in abuse yet faced minimal consequences.”

Whether he’ll be permanently blacklisted from Hollywood remains to be seen. (Historically, the music industry has been more forgiving than elsewhere in entertainment.) The insider says the security footage that showed Diddy beating Ventura in a hotel hallway “will be seared into everyone’s memory forever,” adding, “it will be hard for the public to trust anything he says or does.”’

Attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard in her civil suit against Diddy (Richard testified during his federal trial), believes his reputation has been irrevocably destroyed. “This is a man who has done a lot of horrible things,” Bloom tells Us Weekly. “He’s been convicted of two federal felonies. For the most part, it’s over for him.”

Music marketing expert and Clemson University Assistant Professor Melvin Villaver, Jr., isn’t so sure. “I don’t think his career is over — not in terms of influence and ownership,” Villaver tells Us. “He still controls a significant amount of intellectual property, including the Bad Boy catalog. Even if he’s no longer a public-facing icon, the business side of his career — his rights, royalties and licensing power — will continue to generate value.” (In 2024, Forbes estimated Diddy’s net worth at $400 million — significantly less than their 2019 estimate of $740 million. Brands like Revolt TV and Hulu cut ties with him in late 2023 after Ventura’s lawsuit, and Jennifer Beidel, former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, estimates the rapper has spent $10 million on legal fees.)

As for Diddy’s friends like Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige, both of whom have remained quiet, Villaver says: “The lack of public condemnation shows that Diddy still has sway. Some artists may continue to work with him privately, but publicly associating with him could be damaging.”

Diddy’s legal team tells Us the mogul is not looking to return to who he once was. “He understands the past cannot be erased and is committed to doing the work to become a better man… His impact over decades through education, entrepreneurship and empowerment did not start for headlines and will not end because of them. He plans to keep showing up, quietly and consistently, where it matters most.”

Diddy will remain in custody at MDC (prison consultant Sam Mangel told Us last December that the high-security prison “is probably the worst federal detention center in the country”) until shortly after his sentencing, at which point he’ll be transferred to a low-security facility. TMZ reported that the rapper is enrolled in the STOP Program, which helps inmates learn to prevent sexual assault and dating violence, and has also signed up for in-prison therapy and a drug abuse program. He remains in close contact with his family, who supported him throughout the trial. “Like any family, this has been an emotional time, but their love for him has never wavered,” Diddy’s legal team tells Us. “They continue to support him, with strength and grace.”

Beidel, who represented survivors in the case against late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, says judge Arun Subramanian will weigh “several factors” when it comes to sentencing, including Diddy’s criminal history and the nature of the offense. Diddy’s legal team says they’re hopeful the judge will take “the full scope of his life, his contributions and his ongoing efforts to grow beyond his past” into account before sentencing. Bloom estimates he’ll spend “at least a couple of years” behind bars. (Time served at MDC will be applied to his sentence.)

Still, more legal trouble awaits him. Since Ventura filed her suit against Diddy in November 2023 (they settled for $20 million), more than 50 other civil suits have been brought against the rapper. The allegations go back to 1990 and contain claims of sexual assault and rape from men and women, some of whom were minors at the time. Beidel says it’s unlikely many of the civil cases will be withdrawn. “The standard of review is [a] preponderance of the evidence, which is a much lower standard, so acquittal in a criminal case does not mean that the defendant will prevail in related civil cases,” she explains, citing O.J. Simpson as “the prime example.” (The late actor was infamously acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman but found liable in civil court for wrongful death.)

Several former associates have gone on record saying they’re scared Diddy will seek revenge after they spoke out against him. In an interview with The Cut published on
July 1, Danity Kane’s D. Woods — who accused her former boss of verbal abuse in the Investigation Discovery docuseries The Fall of Diddy — said she’d been staying in a hotel instead of her home “because I don’t know what he’s capable of.” Diddy’s former chef Jourdan Atkinson said via Instagram on July 3 that she fears for her safety “upon his release.” (Atkinson was subpoenaed but did not testify in the trial; she’s claimed Diddy physically abused her.)

Bloom says Richard also has concerns about her safety. “[Diddy] is somebody who has engaged in a lot of threats.” Former exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, a.k.a. “The Punisher” — who testified that he’d been paid to have sex with Ventura while Diddy watched — tells Us he’s hopeful he’ll be left alone. “There’s some degree of concern you have to keep in the back of your mind, but there’s no indication of me being at risk.”

The insider predicts Diddy will do a tell-all interview when the time is right. “He loves to be loved and be the center of attention. I’m sure he’s going to be very intentional about his first interview, and it will probably be very controlled,” the insider explains. “I wouldn’t be shocked if he tries to announce some charitable donation ideas right after his release to build up some goodwill either.”

Diddy’s legal team tells Us the rapper “is focused on reflection, accountability and growth. He is not seeking vindication — he is seeking to be better.” They add, “He understands that redemption begins with facing the truth and he values the opportunity to right the wrongs — one step at a time.”

Villaver believes these actions could pave the way for an eventual rebrand. “He’s reinvented himself multiple times, and I imagine he’ll try to reshape the narrative around this chapter, too — whether through spiritual transformation, philanthropy or some sort of redemption narrative,” he explains. “Whether or not the public accepts it is another question entirely.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

For more on Diddy, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.