US rapper Sean ’Diddy’ Combs arrested in New York

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the renowned American rapper and music producer, has been arrested in New York following an indictment by a grand jury.

The specific charges leading to Combs' arrest on Monday have not yet been disclosed.

“We anticipate unsealing the indictment tomorrow and will provide more details at that time,” said Damian Williams, attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement.

Marc Agnifilo, Combs' lawyer, criticised the authorities’ decision to move forward with what he called an “unjust prosecution” against the music mogul.

“Mr. Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, devoted family man, and dedicated philanthropist. He has spent the last 30 years building an empire, raising his children, and working to uplift the Black community. While he may not be perfect, he is certainly not a criminal,” Agnifilo said.

“Mr. Combs has fully cooperated with this investigation, even voluntarily relocating to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. We urge the public to withhold judgement until all the facts come to light. These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

In March, federal authorities conducted raids on Combs' properties in Los Angeles and Miami.

Since November, Combs has faced several accusations of sexual assault and misconduct from multiple women, with lawsuits filed against him. The first of these came from his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who accused him of physical and sexual abuse.

The lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, with no details about the terms of the settlement being made public.

Combs has strongly denied the allegations, stating that his accusers were merely seeking "a quick payday."

Controversy reignited in May when CNN aired a leaked video from 2016, showing the rapper aggressively grabbing, dragging, and kicking Ventura.

Following the release of the video, Combs issued a public apology, describing his actions as “inexcusable.”

Combs, also known by the names Puff Daddy and Love, is one of the most successful producers in rap history. He founded Bad Boy Records in the early 1990s, working with top artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, and Usher.

In addition to his music career, Combs has diversified into fashion, fragrances, and alcoholic beverages, further solidifying his influence across multiple industries.