Usher has claimed disgraced mogul Diddy has been “misrepresented”, adding he has nothing “negative” to say towards his former mentor.
In October 2025, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was sentenced to four years and two months in prison following his conviction on federal prostitution-related charges. Days later, Combs filed an appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence, to which he still awaits response.
Now, Usher has spoken about his time living with the Bad Boy Records founder while he recorded his 1994 debut album. In an interview with Forbes, Usher said: “I don’t have anything negative to say about Sean Combs because my experience was not what the world has seen, and how he’s been misrepresented.”
Acknowledging that his persepctive might be “controversial”, he went on to add: “I’m not saying that every man is perfect. I’m not saying that all of us don’t have flaws. But I can’t with any sense of humanity not recognise the valuable contributions that this man made for us as Black entrepreneurs, for us as businessmen, for us as people who have transitioned culture and ideas into something that’s tangible. So many people benefitted from what he created and I acknowledge that.”
In July 2025, Diddy was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking, but found guilty of transportation for prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all five charges levelled against him.
The lawsuit was ignited by ex-girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura, who alleged that the rapper subjected her to a decade-long “cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking” until their relationship ended in 2018.
A week later, two new lawsuits were filed by two different women; one claimed that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted her and the other alleged Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall took turns raping the plaintiff and her friend in 1990 or 1991 – with Diddy allegedly turning violent days later.
Diddy denied all of the allegations against him online, but following CCTV footage showing the rapper attacking Ventura, Diddy publicly apologised for his actions.
Addressing the court before being handed his sentence, Diddy once again apologised to his former girlfriends, his family, “all the victims of domestic violence” and his community and said his behaviour was “disgusting, shameful and sick”.
“No matter what anybody says, I know that I’m truly sorry for it all,” he said.
Elsewhere, Trump has ruled out a pardon for Diddy after he penned a personal letter to the President.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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