Diddy makes an appeal to judge in a disturbing letter concerning CCTV footage of his altercation with Cassie

The music mogul admits he 'lost his mind' while in jail

Warning: This article discusses domestic violence, which may be distressing to some readers

Diddy has made a startling admission about his former partner Cassie Ventura in a letter to the judge prior to his sentencing.

Once renowned for producing some of the biggest artists in the music industry - including Usher, Mary J. Blige, and the Notorious B.I.G. - Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been in the headlines for negative reasons since his September 2024 arrest.

The former rapper was arrested last September for sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution purposes.

He was also accused of organizing wild, drug-fueled parties - known as 'freak offs' - where women were allegedly coerced into having sex, sometimes recorded without consent, while Diddy and others reportedly watched.

After an eight-week trial this summer, he was cleared of the most serious charges, but convicted on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution.

Diddy could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, and today (Friday, October 3), he will find out his sentence from Judge Arun Subramanian.

Less than a day before the sentencing, Diddy submitted a letter to the judge pleading for mercy.

In the letter, he confessed that he 'literally lost my mind' while incarcerated.

Diddy expresses regret, acknowledging that 'I’m sorry' will 'never be good enough', and admits that words 'cannot erase the pain from the past'.

Diddy's legal team has attempted to appeal his convictions.

After spending the past 13 months in jail, he states, 'the scene and images of me assaulting Cassie replay in my mind daily,' adding: "I literally lost my mind."

The music mogul is referring to CCTV footage showing him physically abusing his former partner, Ventura, in 2016. This unsettling footage, captured inside a hotel, went viral when released in May.

It shows Ventura walking towards some elevators with Combs chasing after her, wearing only a towel around his waist.

The rapper is seen grabbing Ventura by the neck, throwing her to the floor, kicking her twice, and dragging her by her sweatshirt towards one of the hotel's rooms.

Combs then walks away, only to return and throw an object at Ventura before leaving again.

Cassie testified against Diddy during the trial this summer

The two had an on-and-off relationship for 11 years. Ventura is 18 years younger than him, and they started dating when she was 19 and Diddy was 37.

On November 16, Ventura filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court in Manhattan, claiming that Combs 'frequently beat' her during their relationship.

Ventura's lawsuit described Combs as a 'serial domestic abuser, who would regularly beat and kick Ms. Ventura, leaving black eyes, bruises, and blood'.

The next day, Combs and Ventura announced they had reached a settlement.

Both parties stated they had resolved the claims to their 'mutual satisfaction'.

Combs 'vehemently denied' the allegations, with his lawyer telling UNILAD at the time: "Ms. Ventura has [...] resorted to filing a lawsuit filled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs' reputation and seeking a financial gain."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can speak confidentially 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You can find a list of local resources here.