UPDATED: Latest updates in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial (Fri 7 Jul 2025 US time)

[LionDen]

Jury members in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex-trafficking trial have been ordered to deliberate further after failing to reach a decision on one count.

On day two of deliberations following the music mogul’s six-week trial in New York, the 12-person panel had decided on four out of five counts, though they couldn’t agree on the charge of racketeering conspiracy. In a note sent to the judge at 4pm, local time, the judge was informed that members were deadlocked, with their opinions “unpersuadable.”
Members had reached a partial verdict, agreeing on the charges of sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura, transportation for prostitution of Ms Ventura and others, sex trafficking of ‘Jane’, and finally, transportation for prostitution of ‘Jane’ and others.

Lawyers for the defence and prosecution pushed the judge to instruct jury members to continue deliberating on the racketeering conspiracy charge. A jury in a criminal trial in most U.S. jurisdictions, including New York, must be unanimous.

Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said the defence would like the judge to bring out the jury to instruct them to continue deliberating rather than communicating via notes.

The prosecution asked the judge to enforce the ‘Allen’ charge, also known as the ‘dynamite’ charge, which is used when jurors are unable to reach a verdict. The ‘Allen’ charge is a method encouraging jurors to re-evaluate their positions in order to reach a decision.

[LionDen]

Combs found guilty on two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy and denied bail
Combs still found guilty on lesser charges.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been acquitted on the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking as his stunning verdict was handed down in New York.

The music mogul, 55, has been spared life behind bars after the jury on Wednesday found him not guilty on two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy following a seven-week trial in Manhattan.

Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, charges of which can carry a 10-year prison sentence each.

Combs nodded his head repeatedly and said “thank you” to a juror as a verdict clearing him on the most serious charges was read out in court, New York Post reports. He then held his hands in a prayer gesture, waved them in the direction of the jury and mouthed “thanks”.

Combs reacts after he was convicted of prostitution-related offences but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

However, Combs will remain behind bars awaiting sentencing after his bail application was rejected by the judge.

Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs had shown a “disregard for the rule of law and a propensity of violence” during the bail hearing. He proposed a sentencing date of October 3.

Combs has been incarcerated in Brooklyn since his arrest in September.

CNN anchor Laura Coates described the atmosphere outside court as a “circus”, with video showing Diddy supporters spraying baby oil in celebratory scenes.

“Spectacle, circus, show, all words that come to mind,” Coates said on-air.

“There are shouting matches at times. This is a scene.”

Combs’ lawyers had pushed hard for bail, suggesting a $1 million bond and that he be permitted to travel between Miami, Los Angeles, and New York while he awaits sentencing.

After releasing the jury, Judge Subramanian asked Combs if he wanted to go back to the notorious Brooklyn lock up.

“Mr Combs, you don’t want to go back to the MDC?” Mr Subramanian asked.

Combs shook his head several times and held up his hands in a prayer gesture toward the judge.

The question came after Combs’ lawyer argued that he should be released to home confinement since he was acquitted on the most serious charges in the case.

They said they would hand over his passport to court officials.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs made a praying gesture as the verdict was read out in court.

“He would be nothing short of a fool, which he is not, to violate any conditions the court set,” defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said, adding that Combs “treasures” the “opportunity he has been given.”

Cassie Ventura Fine’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, had earlier urged the judge to reject his bail application.

“Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community,” Wigdor wrote in a letter.

Combs faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars on the two prostitution charges.

Each count he was convicted of has a maximum sentence of 10 years and could be combined into a 20-year sentence.

There is no minimum sentence for those charges of transportation to engage in prostitution – or Mann Act Transportation.

[LionDen]

50 Cent reacts immediately to Diddy verdict after long-standing feud

50 Cent was quick to react to the Sean “Diddy” Combs verdict Wednesday – seemingly hailing the disgraced rapper for beating the feds before quickly dubbing him “the Gay John Gotti.”

“Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man!” the rapper said in an Instagram post alongside a photo of himself grinning and applauding emojis.

50 Cent, who has a longstanding feud with the disgraced music mogul, then compared him to the infamous Mafia boss who was nicknamed “The Teflon Don” after prosecutors couldn’t get charges to stick, The NY Post reports.

“Beat the Rico, he the Gay John Gotti,” the rapper added.

The “In Da Club” hip-hop artist was name-dropped during the trial back in May during shocking testimony that touched on the longstanding feud between the hip-hop legends.

Diddy’s ex-assistant, Capricorn Clark, had told jurors her boss once implied he might pull a gun on Fitty.

“I don’t like all the back and forth … I like guns,” Clark recalled Combs telling his manager after seeing 50 Cent at an MTV event.

50 Cent – who famously took nine bullets during a 2000 shooting in Queens – reacted to the name-drop with mocking faux fear.

“Wait a minute PUFFY’s got a gun, I can’t believe this I don’t feel safe,” the New York City native posted on Instagram after the testimony. “LOL.”

The beef between the pair began nearly 20 years ago after 50 Cent, whose real name Curtis James Jackson III, released a diss track — “The Bomb” — in 2006 that accused Combs of knowing who killed The Notorious B.I.G.

He spent much of the Combs’ sex-trafficking trial roasting him over the torrent of graphic evidence and accusations levelled against him.

The Bad Boy Records founder was ultimately found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted on two sex-trafficking charges and one racketeering charge.

The acquittals on the sex trafficking counts mean he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. He could have faced life in prison if he were convicted on sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy. Combs now faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each of the two prostitution counts.

[LionDen]

Can Diddy stage a career comeback after his bombshell verdict?

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ supporters chanted “Free Puff!” — and poured baby oil over themselves — outside Manhattan federal court on Wednesday after the stunning verdict in his bombshell weekslong sex trafficking trial was revealed.

But could he really make a comeback?

A jury convicted the once-renowned music mogul, 55, of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted him of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have landed him in prison for the rest of his life.

Combs is now facing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the two prostitution charges. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3.

Before he was arrested in September, the three-time Grammy Award winner was riding high as one of the most powerful men in music.

And while his career quickly came tumbling down, the jury’s shocking decision opens the door to the possibility that Combs will try to rejoin the industry and fix his battered reputation.

“I do not think the court of public opinion will be forgiving,” Ann Olivarius, the founder of the McAllister Olivarius law firm and an lawyer focused on women’s rights, told The Post in a statement. “The damage to Diddy’s reputation is real, and demonstrates that the world is watching and survivors matter, even if their abusers are powerful.”

David B. Allan, a professor of music marketing at Saint Joseph’s University, similarly believes Combs can’t make a comeback.

“Once the wave of getting off on the more serious charges settles, the music business will pass judgment and his reputation will be done,” Allan exclusively told The Post. “Sean has always been great at p.r. and publicity, but there’s no coming back from this, as this is his legacy.

“There will always be an asterisk by his name and his hits,” Allan stated.

Ana Garcia, host of “True Crime News: The Podcast,” shared a similar sentiment about Combs’ future in the industry.

“Combs may have been spared life in prison but I am not so sure his career can be saved,” Garcia exclusively told The Post. “How can you look at Diddy and not think this man is repulsive? The public cannot unsee Cassie’s beating or the vile things he made her do.”

“I think Diddy’s image and endorsements are ruined,” Garcia continued. “This trial didn’t up Diddy’s gangsta cred. Instead, it revealed a pathetic and violent man who gets off on seeing his beautiful girlfriend urinated on. Who wants that guy endorsing your product?”

Meanwhile, Tyrone Blackburn, a lawyer who is representing Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones and others in civil suits against Combs, believes the star could make a grand return.

“Because these are not viewed as the really serious claims, or serious charges, I think he may be able to come back,” Blackburn exclusively told The Post.

“I think if he shows some sort of remorse, I think if he submits an apology, I think if he falls on his sword and takes ownership for what he has done, thanks the jury for their thoroughness and says he will get some help, he possibly can,” Blackburn added.

Lawyer Joel Denaro told The Post: “Like always, people’s memories will fade, and given Diddy’s considerable talent, I’m sure he will flourish musically going forward.”

Tony Dofat, for example, is up to collaborate with the embattled mogul again. He composed and produced hit tracks for Diddy and Bad Boy Entertainment in the ’90s.

“I would definitely work together with him again. We made a lot of great records together,” he told The Post. “Maybe going through these things will put them in a different perspective. It’ll probably create a different type of art.”

Jeff Apruzzese, who runs the music industry program at Drexel University, believes Combs will “certainly try” to wiggle his way back.

“Diddy has always positioned himself as both a creator and a CEO. That said, a public-facing comeback, whether through performance or media appearances, would likely face steep resistance,” Apruzzese noted. “If he returns at all, it’s more likely to be behind the scenes in a production or mentorship role, though that still depends on whether business partners are willing to re-engage.”

Combs wouldn’t be the first once-disgraced celebrity to recover from a major scandal.

Chris Brown was all but cancelled for getting into a domestic violence incident with then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. The Forever singer, 36, has also faced other assault allegations over the years.

But Brown experienced a career resurgence with the release of his albums Breezy in 2022 and 11:11 in 2023, the latter of which won him the Grammy Award for Best R & B Album. He’s also about to embark on the US leg of his Breezy Bowl XX tour from July 30 to September 20.

Apruzzese doesn’t think Combs can replicate what Brown has done.

“Chris Brown’s return unfolded gradually and under very different cultural conditions,” the professor said. “The nature of the allegations against Diddy and the current climate in Hollywood means people are far more cautious about public associations that could create long-term reputational risk.”

Apruzzese also speculated that other famous names “will likely keep their distance, at least publicly,” from Combs for now.

“Collaborators now have to think about brand alignment, audience expectations and potential backlash,” he noted. “So even if relationships still exist behind the scenes, we may not see them out in the open.”

Along with the current lack of public support, Combs’ finances have taken a hit since he became a pariah.

Forbes last year estimated the rapper’s net worth at around $400 million, down from the $740 million he was worth in 2019.

Before his arrest, he reportedly stepped down and later fully divested from his cable television network, Revolt. He also settled a legal dispute with spirits company Diageo, which involved him relinquishing control of his alcohol brands Cîroc and DeLeón.

Combs’ record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, has also been affected by his legal troubles. In 2023, he returned the music-publishing rights to the artists and songwriters who helped build the company.

At the time, Combs told Variety: “It’s just doing the right thing. I think that we as an industry, and as a people, have to look in the mirror and make a shift forward. It’s about evolving, leading by example and reforming an industry that needs it, in a world that needs reform.”

Bad Boy has not announced any major releases since Combs’ arrest. The last album Combs put out was 2023’s The Love Album: Off the Grid.

However, Combs was recently featured on Kanye West’s new song, which also included West’s 12-year-old daughter, North.

West, who has also been shunned for his own controversies, has voiced support for Combs and even made a brief appearance at the trial.

Combs’ legal costs have certainly added up over the past year, which could also endanger his potential resurgence.

Before his trial began in May, an expert told Fox News that Combs’ legal defence could cost him $15 million.

After the verdict, legal expert Neama Rahmani told The Post that Combs’ sex-trafficking case was the “most expensive prostitution trial in American history.”

In addition, Combs’ ex Cassie Ventura claimed she received a $20 million settlement in her 2023 lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul. Video evidence of Combs physically assaulting Ventura, 38, from 2016 was released last year, before she testified against Combs during the trial in May.

Ventura reacted to Wednesday’s verdict in a statement via her lawyer, Doug Wigdor, who said she “paved the way” for the jury to convict Combs on the prostitution charges.

“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,” Ventura’s lawyer said.

[LionDen]

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs given jailhouse standing ovation after verdict

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs received a standing ovation from inmates when he returned to jail after he was acquitted on charges which potentially carried a life sentence, according to his lawyer.

Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo claimed Combs was cheered by fellow prisoners at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn after a jury found him not guilty on charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking last week.

The 55-year-old rapper was refused bail after being found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and is still facing up to 20 years in prison.

The lawyer said the inmates championed the violent domestic abuser for beating the more serious charges in the high-profile federal case in New York.

“They all said: ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government’,” Agnifilo told Associated Press.

Agnifilo said he warned the rapper to expect sex trafficking charges after federal agents raided his home in Los Angeles and Miami in March last year.

The racketeering conspiracy charge stemmed from the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act, or RICO, is a legal weapon introduced in the 1970s to bring down America’s notorious Mafia families.

“I said: ‘Maybe it’s your fate in life to be the guy who wins’,” he recalled during the AP interview.

“They need to see that someone can win. I think he took that to heart.”

The phone interview with the lawyer was interrupted by a call from Combs, who reportedly speaks to his attorney up to five times a day from the Brooklyn lockup.

There will be a hearing this week to address the scheduling of his sentencing on the prostitution transportation charges which each carry a sentence of up to 10 years.

He also still faces a raft of civil lawsuits.

Over the two-months trial, prosecutors had accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise with close associates and used threats and violence to force his then partner Cassie Ventura and other women to engage in sex at drug-fuelled “freak-offs.”

The raft of charges against Combs were triggered by Ventura’s civil suit, filed in November 2023, alleging the powerful music mogul raped and physically abused her. He settled the case out of court.

Two months after the federal raids on his homes in March 2024, shocking hotel surveillance footage emerged of Combs chasing, kicking and beating Ventura outside a lift as she sought to escape him.

The singer was heavily pregnant as she testified in the New York court about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Combs during their relationship between 2007 to 2018.

After the verdict was announced last week, Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the rapper to remain in custody given the evidence presented at trial that he had been violent in the past.

Ventura, who gave birth to her third child two weeks after giving her evidence, sent a letter to the judge via her lawyer stating she believed “Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself.”

“It is impossible for the defendant to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he poses no danger,” the judge said.

His lawyers will attempt to expedite the sentencing hearing schedule at a hearing before the judge on Tuesday (US time)

[LionDen]

Diddy hit with explosive new lawsuit days after being acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering

Diddy and his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura

It seems Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal battles may be far from over.

The rap mogul has been hit with an explosive new alleged sex scandal just days after he was acquitted of sex-trafficking and racketeering charges.

A male escort by the name of Clayton Howard is suing him and his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, for sex trafficking and other alleged crimes when he alleges he was hired to participate in their “freak offs” years ago, TMZ reports.

Among the shocking allegations in the civil lawsuit filed against the pair, Howard claims the singer gave him a sexually transmitted disease and later aborted a pregnancy with him without his knowledge.

The male escort says Ventura, who became Combs’ main accuser in his trail, was not a victim but rather an “engaged participant”.

“Ventura was not merely a victim forced into sexual encounters with male escorts, but rather an active and engaged participant who willingly manipulated and exploited others, including Plaintiff, to satisfy the sexually depraved desires of Defendant Combs and herself,” the lawsuit reads in part.

In the documents, Howard – who operated under the alias “Dave” – claims he was trafficked across US state lines from as far back as 2009 to participate in “freak-offs” involving the pair. He says this lasted for eight years.

During that time, he claims he was “drugged”, “manipulated” and forced into degrading acts while having unprotected sex. Among those acts, Howard claims Ventura “commanded him to masturbate for hours”, which he said left his penis “bruised and swollen”.

He also accused her of forcing “herself upon him during her menstrual cycle against his will”, as well as filming him without his consent.

As for Combs, Howard alleges that he “implied threats of violence” and once threatened to “pistol whip” him if he didn’t comply.

According to the court papers, Howard is seeking compensation for psychological injury, emotional distress, medical bills and loss of income.

The lawsuit comes days after Diddy was spared life behind bars when a jury found him not guilty on two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering conspiracy following a seven-week trial in Manhattan.

However, Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, charges of which can carry a 10-year prison sentence each.

The rapper will remain behind bars awaiting sentencing after his bail application was rejected by the judge.

Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs had shown a “disregard for the rule of law and a propensity of violence” during the bail hearing.

He proposed a sentencing date of October 3.

Combs has been incarcerated in Brooklyn since his arrest in September.

[LionDen]

How two words in a text message sent from Cassie Ventura to Sean Combs sank the criminal case against her former lover

For seven weeks, 12 jurors sitting in a courtroom more than 20 stories up a New York skyscraper – with million-dollar views across Manhattan – heard just how disturbing and degrading Sean Combs could be.

Witness after witness described how the music mogul and singer, better known as “Diddy”, threatened and assaulted the people around him.

One assistant described how furious Combs was when he bought the star the wrong sized water bottle.

CCTV footage was shown to the court of Combs beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura outside a hotel lift.

A friend of Ms Ventura described in shockingly vivid detail several alleged encounters with the star including one where she said was dangled over a balcony 17 stories up.

But, as startling as these claims were, none of them mattered in the end.

His own lawyers even admitted he had committed domestic violence and that they would likely find him a “jerk”.

Combs wasn’t charged with assault, violence or threats.

Rather, he was facing two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, two counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering.

On that Wednesday, the jury in the federal case found Combs innocent on the most serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, both of which could have led to life behind bars.

However, he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution in connection with Ms Ventura and a second woman who gave evidence under the name of “Jane”.

The 55-year-old could yet face 20 years for those convictions, with bail denied by a judge as he awaits sentencing in October.

The prosecution’s failure to convict Combs on other charges could - essentially - come down to two words sent in a text by Ms Ventura to Combs: “always ready”.

At the outset of the trial, in mid-May, Combs’ lawyers did not try and sugar-coat their famous client’s actions.

The evidence might prove domestic violence, they told the jury, but it did not prove any of the federal charges.

“Sean Combs is a complicated man but this is not a complicated case,” said defence lawyer Teny Garagos, at the time.

Ms Garagos said there would be multiple times the jurors might think Combs was “mean” or a “jerk”.

But, she added: “This case is about voluntary adult choices in consensual relationships.”

“Being a willing participant is not sex trafficking.”

[LionDen]

Police found personal lubricant and bags of pink drugs during the raids on Combs home.

Disturbing freak-off parties

At the centre of the allegations was Comb’s desire for so- called “freak-offs”. These involved one of Combs’ partners having sex with a paid male sex worker, while the star watched on directing the scene and often masturbating.

The jury heard about the vast amounts of baby oil and lube which Combs demanded those taking part slather themselves in; about the copious drugs consumed; about Ms Ventura being urinated on and the filthy state hotel rooms were left in.

“The evidence will show the sexual conduct was coercive and criminal,” said prosecution lawyer Emily Johnson.

“He made women have sex when they didn’t want to be there”.

Indeed, Ms Ventura and others insisted that, over time, they were less and less willing to take part in the freak-offs. They only did so because they were, in one way or another, forced to.

The problem for the prosecution was the digital paper trail that often suggested otherwise.

In August 2009, two years after she and Combs started dating and around a year and a half after the freak offs began, Combs texted Ms Ventura asking “when do you want to freak off?”

“I’m always ready to freak off, LOL,” replied Ms Ventura.

Ms Ventura said her texts seeming to approve of freak-offs were “just words at that point”.

But it wasn’t just one text exchange.

The court was also shown a string of at least 16 texts from March 2016 which the defence claimed showed that far from Combs demanding freak-offs, it was Ms Ventura that sometimes instigated them.

In one instance, Combs asked Ms Ventura what her plans were for the night. She replied she had to remain fresh for her upcoming work commitments.

Seemingly fine to not see her that night, he told her to “get some rest” and that he loved her.

Ms Ventura, however, sent him explicit sexual messages in return and wrote that she wanted to have sex. Combs said he needed to know either way so he could “plan the rest of my night”. Eventually she said she would come around later that night for a freak-off.

Ms Ventura disagreed she had instigated that sex party. Rather, she said, she knew Combs well enough that his texts were pushing her into agreeing to a freak-off.

The racketing charge could have led to life imprisonment for Combs.

The star and his “inner circle” helped facilitate crimes including kidnapping, arson and sex crimes “again and again,” the prosecution argued in the trial.

Multiple former staff members took to the stand. They luridly described how they would set up the freak-offs. The lube and baby oil - and sometimes drugs - they would painstakingly procure. Some described how they would clean up the rooms afterwards so the hotels would be less inclined to complain or – potentially – sell the pictures of the rooms trashed by a star.

But the jury wasn’t convinced Combs’ staff were assisting in any crimes highlighted in the charges. It wasn’t even clear if employees precisely knew what occurred at the freak-offs, aside from a lot of sex involving a lot of lube.

Being convicted on two of five charges is not the ideal outcome for Combs: that would be acquittal. But being found not guilty of the two lesser charges is a victory of sorts.

Moments after the verdict came through, Ms Ventura’s lawyer Doug Wigdor, said his client had showed “unquestionable strength” in court.

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

“She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion.”

[LionDen]

‘Case was weak from the start’

Nicole Brenecki, a New York trial attorney, claimed the prosecution’s case fell apart because it was “built more on sensationalism than a solid legal basis”.

“RICO charges require proof of an ongoing criminal enterprise with coordinated activity by multiple actors, not just deviant parties and disgruntled ex-girlfriends,” she told the NY Post.

“Add to that the lack of paper trails, cooperating witnesses inside the alleged ‘enterprise,’ or any clear hierarchy of criminal role, and you’re left with smoke, but no fire — and a not guilty verdict follows.”

Brenecki said the testimony indicated that Combs’ ex-girlfriends appeared to have “willingly taken part in (the) freak-offs”.

“Voluntary participation, no matter how controversial, doesn’t equal organized crime,” she added.

David Seltzer, a managing partner at a criminal law firm in New York not involved in the case, agreed.

“The government’s case was weak from the start,” he said.

“They tried to put a square peg in a round hole, using mobster-like charges, when all they had were glorified State Court charges.”

Lawyer John W. Day said Combs’ trial was a “huge win” for the music mogul’s defense team.

“It means the jury did not buy the stories of Cassie and Jane and most likely believed they were enjoying life with Diddy voluntarily, and all the trappings of that world.”

[LionDen]

Can Diddy stage a career comeback after his bombshell verdict?

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ supporters chanted “Free Puff!” — and poured baby oil over themselves — outside Manhattan federal court on Wednesday after the stunning verdict in his bombshell weekslong sex trafficking trial was revealed.

But could he really make a comeback?

A jury convicted the once-renowned music mogul, 55, of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted him of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have landed him in prison for the rest of his life.

Combs is now facing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the two prostitution charges. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3.

Before he was arrested in September, the three-time Grammy Award winner was riding high as one of the most powerful men in music.

And while his career quickly came tumbling down, the jury’s shocking decision opens the door to the possibility that Combs will try to rejoin the industry and fix his battered reputation.

“I do not think the court of public opinion will be forgiving,” Ann Olivarius, the founder of the McAllister Olivarius law firm and an lawyer focused on women’s rights, told The Post in a statement. “The damage to Diddy’s reputation is real, and demonstrates that the world is watching and survivors matter, even if their abusers are powerful.”

David B. Allan, a professor of music marketing at Saint Joseph’s University, similarly believes Combs can’t make a comeback.

“Once the wave of getting off on the more serious charges settles, the music business will pass judgment and his reputation will be done,” Allan exclusively told The Post. “Sean has always been great at p.r. and publicity, but there’s no coming back from this, as this is his legacy.

“There will always be an asterisk by his name and his hits,” Allan stated.

Ana Garcia, host of “True Crime News: The Podcast,” shared a similar sentiment about Combs’ future in the industry.

“Combs may have been spared life in prison but I am not so sure his career can be saved,” Garcia exclusively told The Post. “How can you look at Diddy and not think this man is repulsive? The public cannot unsee Cassie’s beating or the vile things he made her do.”

“I think Diddy’s image and endorsements are ruined,” Garcia continued. “This trial didn’t up Diddy’s gangsta cred. Instead, it revealed a pathetic and violent man who gets off on seeing his beautiful girlfriend urinated on. Who wants that guy endorsing your product?”

Meanwhile, Tyrone Blackburn, a lawyer who is representing Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones and others in civil suits against Combs, believes the star could make a grand return.

“Because these are not viewed as the really serious claims, or serious charges, I think he may be able to come back,” Blackburn exclusively told The Post.

“I think if he shows some sort of remorse, I think if he submits an apology, I think if he falls on his sword and takes ownership for what he has done, thanks the jury for their thoroughness and says he will get some help, he possibly can,” Blackburn added.

Lawyer Joel Denaro told The Post: “Like always, people’s memories will fade, and given Diddy’s considerable talent, I’m sure he will flourish musically going forward.”

Tony Dofat, for example, is up to collaborate with the embattled mogul again. He composed and produced hit tracks for Diddy and Bad Boy Entertainment in the ’90s.

“I would definitely work together with him again. We made a lot of great records together,” he told The Post. “Maybe going through these things will put them in a different perspective. It’ll probably create a different type of art.”

Jeff Apruzzese, who runs the music industry program at Drexel University, believes Combs will “certainly try” to wiggle his way back.

“Diddy has always positioned himself as both a creator and a CEO. That said, a public-facing comeback, whether through performance or media appearances, would likely face steep resistance,” Apruzzese noted. “If he returns at all, it’s more likely to be behind the scenes in a production or mentorship role, though that still depends on whether business partners are willing to re-engage.”

Combs wouldn’t be the first once-disgraced celebrity to recover from a major scandal.

Chris Brown was all but cancelled for getting into a domestic violence incident with then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. The Forever singer, 36, has also faced other assault allegations over the years.

But Brown experienced a career resurgence with the release of his albums Breezy in 2022 and 11:11 in 2023, the latter of which won him the Grammy Award for Best R & B Album. He’s also about to embark on the US leg of his Breezy Bowl XX tour from July 30 to September 20.

Apruzzese doesn’t think Combs can replicate what Brown has done.

“Chris Brown’s return unfolded gradually and under very different cultural conditions,” the professor said. “The nature of the allegations against Diddy and the current climate in Hollywood means people are far more cautious about public associations that could create long-term reputational risk.”

Apruzzese also speculated that other famous names “will likely keep their distance, at least publicly,” from Combs for now.

“Collaborators now have to think about brand alignment, audience expectations and potential backlash,” he noted. “So even if relationships still exist behind the scenes, we may not see them out in the open.”

Along with the current lack of public support, Combs’ finances have taken a hit since he became a pariah.

Forbes last year estimated the rapper’s net worth at around $400 million, down from the $740 million he was worth in 2019.

Before his arrest, he reportedly stepped down and later fully divested from his cable television network, Revolt. He also settled a legal dispute with spirits company Diageo, which involved him relinquishing control of his alcohol brands Cîroc and DeLeón.

Combs’ record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, has also been affected by his legal troubles. In 2023, he returned the music-publishing rights to the artists and songwriters who helped build the company.

At the time, Combs told Variety: “It’s just doing the right thing. I think that we as an industry, and as a people, have to look in the mirror and make a shift forward. It’s about evolving, leading by example and reforming an industry that needs it, in a world that needs reform.”

Bad Boy has not announced any major releases since Combs’ arrest. The last album Combs put out was 2023’s The Love Album: Off the Grid.

However, Combs was recently featured on Kanye West’s new song, which also included West’s 12-year-old daughter, North.

West, who has also been shunned for his own controversies, has voiced support for Combs and even made a brief appearance at the trial.

Combs’ legal costs have certainly added up over the past year, which could also endanger his potential resurgence.

Before his trial began in May, an expert told Fox News that Combs’ legal defence could cost him $15 million.

After the verdict, legal expert Neama Rahmani told The Post that Combs’ sex-trafficking case was the “most expensive prostitution trial in American history.”

In addition, Combs’ ex Cassie Ventura claimed she received a $20 million settlement in her 2023 lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul. Video evidence of Combs physically assaulting Ventura, 38, from 2016 was released last year, before she testified against Combs during the trial in May.

Ventura reacted to Wednesday’s verdict in a statement via her lawyer, Doug Wigdor, who said she “paved the way” for the jury to convict Combs on the prostitution charges.

“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,” Ventura’s lawyer said.