New York:
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has submitted a four-page letter to the federal judge ahead of his sentencing, issuing an apology over the “hurt and pain” he has caused and making a desperate plea for leniency.
In his filing, submitted on Thursday, Combs accepted full responsibility for his legal troubles, writing, “There is no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself.”
The 55-year-old artist described his time behind bars as the “hardest” period of his life, where “pain became his teacher.” According to People, Combs wrote directly to the judge, asking for mercy not for himself, but for his family:
“I ask you for mercy today, not only for my sake, but for the sake of my children. God blessed me with 7 beautiful children – 3 sons and 4 daughters. I have failed my children as a father…“
He cited the need to be present for his seven children and his 84-year-old mother, who recently underwent brain surgery. “As I write you this letter, I am scared to death. Scared to spend another second away from my mother and my children. I no longer care about the money or the fame. There is nothing more important to me than my family.”
Confession of Domestic Violence and Selfishness
Combs directly addressed the surveillance footage showing him hitting and kicking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, calling his actions “dead wrong”.
“I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry.”
He attributed his downfall to addiction and hubris: “My downfall was rooted in my selfishness. I got lost in the drugs and the excess.”
Plea for a Second Chance
The mogul claimed that incarceration has led to a profound spiritual change, suggesting that the experience killed his former self and paved the way for a new beginning.
“Jail is designed to break you mentally, physically and spiritually… There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. I can’t change the past, but I can change the future… Since incarceration, I have gone through a spiritual reset.”
Combs also highlighted the impact on his business ventures and career, arguing that his losses and lessons guarantee he will “never be in another criminal Courtroom again.”
He concluded by asking for the opportunity to share his story: “If you give me a chance, I would like the opportunity to share my story with people to prevent at least one person from making the mistakes that I’ve made… Make me an example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance.”
He noted his efforts in prison, where he spends his days “reading books, writing, working out, or in therapy” and has managed to stay “sober for the first time in 25 years.”
