Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is “strong, healthy and focused” despite being placed on suicide watch as he awaits trial in a federal jail.
Last Monday, the hip-hop mogul was arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs pleaded not guilty.
He is currently being held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City, and while several U.S. news outlets reported that he had been placed on suicide watch, his representative clarified on Friday that the designation was “procedural” and a preventative measure.
“Mr. Combs is strong, healthy and focused on his defence,” a spokesperson commented. “He is committed to fighting this case and has full confidence in both his legal team and the truth.”
Combs is set to appear at an initial pretrial conference next week.
In light of the charges, lawyer Marc Agnifilo declared he would “fight like hell” to get his client released from custody.
“(Combs is) going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers, and I expect a long battle with a good result for Mr. Combs,” he told reporters.
Combs has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, with federal agents conducting searches at his Miami and Los Angeles properties in March.
Around the same time, the Bad Boy Records founder was hit with several lawsuits and allegations of sexual misconduct, with most of the complaints still pending.
And last November, Cassie Ventura also filed a lawsuit against her ex-partner Combs in which she accused him of physical and sexual abuse during their relationship.
The pair quickly reached an out-of-court settlement and the lawsuit was dismissed.
However, a surveillance video emerged months later showing him beating her in a hotel corridor in 2016, prompting the 54-year-old to apologise for his “inexcusable behaviour”.
