Hip-hop billionaire Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will be missing from the celebrity-filled 2025 Met Gala as jury selection for his federal trial gets underway on May 5, 2025. Diddy is facing five federal counts in three indictments, including sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and transportation for prostitution. Even with these serious allegations, he has entered a plea of not guilty and strongly denies any wrongdoing, including claims made in a number of civil suits.
According to The Mirror US, Diddy has been allowed special permission to dress in civilian attire rather than the detention jumpsuit for his court appearances. Based on the court decision, “Diddy has been allowed to wear as many as five button-down shirts, five pairs of pants, five sweaters, five pairs of socks, and two pairs of shoes without laces to appear in court.” Experts say civilian clothing will help avoid possible jury prejudice because jurors tend to think jail clothes equal guilt.
Legal Defense Strategy
Diddy’s lawyers have filed a new defense tactic, which argues that he was ‘too intoxicated’ to have fully known or premeditated the crimes. In court filings, Diddy’s lawyers intend to present a Columbia University professor as an expert witness who will say that he suffered from a mental condition that impaired his control over his actions and awareness of the seriousness of the crimes when they took place.
Possible Career Consequences
This trial is a turning point in the career of Diddy, who has walked through the fields of music, business, and entertainment. Having been once touted as a force to be dealt with in business, the outcome of this trial will have broad consequences for his reputation, business, and personal freedom. Conviction would have disastrous consequences for his future and his legacy.
