New York, October 4(HS): Sean “Diddy” Combs, the once-influential music mogul, was sentenced to more than four years in prison on Friday after delivering a deeply personal courtroom apology for his role in a high-profile sex trafficking case. Standing before Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs expressed profound remorse, acknowledging the harm he had caused to his victims and the sweeping personal and professional losses he has endured since his arrest.

In a subdued address to the court, Combs admitted he had failed as a parent, seen his business empire collapse, and lost the respect he once commanded. “Most of all, I lost my self-respect,” he said.

“I was stripped down to nothing. I really am truly sorry for it all, no matter what they say.”He offered specific apologies to Casandra Ventura and another woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane,” both of whom had detailed years of abuse during a lengthy trial that captivated public attention.

Combs’s children made impassioned pleas for leniency, emphasizing their father’s complex legacy and the pain felt by his family. However, prosecutors underscored the gravity of the crimes, with lead attorney Christy Slavik stating, “Today is about accountability and justice. It’s about a man who did horrible things to other people to satisfy his own sexual gratification.”

Judge Subramanian, while recognizing Combs’s past philanthropy and influence in communities of color, was unequivocal in his sentencing remarks: “A history of good works can’t wash away the record in this case.”

He cited “massive” evidence of abuse and coercion, rejecting the defense’s attempts to frame the case as mere celebrity excess.

“The consequences are often tragic, as they were in this case,” the judge noted, urging Combs—once released—to use his remaining influence to support abuse survivors.The sentencing marks a dramatic fall from grace for a figure who once defined American pop culture, and sets a precedent for accountability in the entertainment industry.

As Combs begins his prison term, the case continues to resonate as a landmark moment in the ongoing reckoning with abuse and power in the public eye.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar