Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs falls to his knees, overtaken by emotions as the jury delivers a verdict that shakes his public facade and reveals a deeply human vulnerability.
At a Glance
- A New York jury has acquitted Sean “Diddy” Combs of the most serious charges against him, including running a criminal enterprise and sex trafficking.
- He was, however, found guilty on two lesser counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
- Upon hearing the acquittals, Combs collapsed to his knees in the courtroom, sobbing with emotion.
- Despite the major acquittals, the judge ordered Combs to be taken back into custody to await sentencing on the guilty verdicts.
A Stunning Split Verdict
After a grueling two-month federal trial, a New York jury has delivered a stunning split verdict for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the jury found Combs not guilty of the three most serious charges he faced: one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking.
The jury, however, found him guilty on two lesser counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution. The verdict came after three days of intense deliberations that followed weeks of sensational and often disturbing testimony.
An Emotional Collapse in Court
The reading of the verdict produced a moment of high drama in the Manhattan courtroom. As the jury foreperson announced the “not guilty” verdict on the racketeering charge—which could have carried a life sentence—Combs, 55, was overcome with emotion. According to reports from AOL News, he dropped to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably.
After composing himself, he was seen mouthing the words “I’m coming home” to his mother, who was sitting in the gallery.
“Given His Life By This Jury”
The acquittals on the most severe charges were seen as a massive victory for Combs’s legal team, which had rested its case in a risky 20 minutes without calling a single witness. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed his relief outside the courthouse. “Mr. Combs has been given his life by this jury,” he told reporters.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial has ended in a split verdict, leaving him acquitted on the top charges and convicted of a lesser sex-crimes charge.
Read everything you need to know about the jury's decision: https://t.co/JiZoy6RTgo pic.twitter.com/i6fqgLjfB5
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 2, 2025
As reported by the BBC, a crowd of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, and chants of “free Diddy” erupted after the verdict was announced.
Despite the celebration, Combs’s legal troubles are not over. Judge Arun Subramanian ordered that he be taken back into custody to await sentencing on the two transportation charges for which he was convicted. The judge denied his lawyers’ request for him to be released on bail, meaning the music icon will remain behind bars for now.
