Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Appearing Tired and Sporting a Gray Beard, Pleads Not Guilty to New 'Forced Labor' Charges

Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to court Friday and pleaded not guilty to new federal charges accusing him of forced labor.

Combs, 55, now faces charges he forced employees to work long, grueling hours on little sleep, using physical, financial, or reputational harm, or threats thereof. He is also accused by the federal government of using physical force or threats to coerce at least one employee to engage in sexual conduct with him.

The Bad Boy Records founder was previously charged by federal prosecutors with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The billionaire hip hop mogul arrived in court in Manhattan in tan prison garb and sported noticeably grayer hair than he’s previously been seen wearing. He also has grown a gray beard behind bars. He hugged his attorneys as he entered the courtroom and waved to his children in the rafters.

The judge overseeing Diddy’s case, Arun Subramanian, pushed opening statements in Combs’ upcoming trial back to May 12, even as jury selection will still begin as scheduled on May 5.

Prosecutors had pushed for jury selection to start on April 21 to prevent the trial from extending beyond the July 4 holiday. The defense, however, requested a May 5 start date, arguing that an earlier timeline would be unfair to their preparation.

Prosecutors also claimed Combs’ defense team has not turned in any discovery, requesting the judge order the defense team to do so.

Also at issue on Friday was the infamous tape of Combs allegedly assaulting his ex Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway.

Prosecutors intend to use the tape as evidence at trial, but Combs’ attorneys allege it’s “deceptive,” claiming that CNN, which first reported on the footage, doctored it before publication — including by speeding it up and “changing the video sequence” — and destroyed the only copy. CNN has denied those claims.

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Judge Subramanian urged both sides to come to a resolution, potentially by slowing down the video or ensuring it’s played in the correct sequence. Should they fail to, he may require the parties to file additional motions.

Combs will be back in court for the next pretrial conference on April 25, ahead of jury questionnaires, Subramanian ruled.

Combs was first accused of rape, sex trafficking and domestic violence by his former girlfriend Cassie in November 2023.

Although the two swiftly settled the matter, it sparked off a series of allegations against Combs — ranging from sexual assault, to coercing women into performing orchestrated sex acts with male sex workers, anal rape and using physical violence against his employees.

Combs was criminally charged by the feds in September 2024 and is facing dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct in various forms. He has denied all the allegations. 

Combs is currently being held at the Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after being denied bail three times.