Diddy's First Christmas Behind Bars

Us reveals what the holidays will look like for disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs as he remains locked up in jail awaiting trial

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On the morning of Nov. 22, Sean “Diddy” Combs entered an NYC courtroom for a pretrial hearing. Wearing prison khakis, the rapper’s face “lit up” when he spotted his family members seated in the second row, says an eyewitness. Led by his mom, Janice, six of his seven children had arrived a few minutes earlier and were sitting together and holding hands when their dad appeared. “He smiled, waved, blew them kisses and mouthed ‘I love you’ to them,” the eyewitness tells Us, adding that the music mogul appeared to be in good spirits.

Not for long. Five days later, Diddy’s request for bail was denied for a third time. He spent Thanksgiving behind bars — and is now set to celebrate Christmas while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The rapper, 55, was arrested and indicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering on Sept. 16, and he pleaded not guilty the following day. (His trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025.) Since his arrest, more than 20 civil suits have been filed against him, and he has denied all charges.

It will be a Christmas unlike any other for Diddy, one marked by loneliness and without his usual luxuries. “He’s trying to stay positive,” says a source. In years past, the Sean John founder has been surrounded by famous friends and loved ones, including his mother and children (he’s dad to Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, Christian, 26, Chance, 18, twins D’Lila and Jessie, who turn 18 on Dec. 21, and 2-year-old Love). Adds the source: “The holidays will be especially hard for the family without their father.”

Diddy is currently housed on a dorm-style floor in MDC Brooklyn.

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