Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Image source, Jane Rosenberg / Reuter

Three months ago, Sean "Diddy" Combs fell to his knees in a Manhattan courtroom after a New York jury acquitted him of charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.

On Friday, a quieter version of the hip-hop mogul sat emotionless, still in his chair, looking down as a judge sentenced him to more than four years in prison.

In July, 12 New Yorkers acquitted Combs, 55, of sex trafficking and racketeering charges - which carried the potential of a life sentence - but found him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution involving his two ex-girlfriends, Cassandra Ventura and "Jane".

On Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian told a downcast Combs that his crimes and the abuse of his ex-girlfriends warranted 50 months in prison and a $500,000 fine.

As the judge described how Combs used his fame and power to "subjugate" his victims, the music mogul did not look up, remaining expressionless for the judge's 20-minute speech.

Afterwards, the rapper turned around to look at an entourage of mroe than 30 family members and friends packed into the courtroom behind him.

He appeared to mouth a message to them: "I love you, I'm sorry."

We're ending our live coverage, but you can read more on the Diddy saga here:

• What Sean 'Diddy' Combs did the moment he learned his fate
• What has Sean 'Diddy' Combs been convicted of?
• Diddy's reputation is tarnished, but could he find a way back?

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from outside court

I just asked Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo what he made of the judge saying the sexual encounters weren’t consensual.

"We think that's just absolutely inconsistent with the jury's verdict. I mean, the jury's verdict was resoundingly clear. There was no sex trafficking, there was no racketeering. Everything was consensual, everything was adult, which is why he was convicted only of the prostitution offence," Agnifilo responds.

"What we feel happened today was that the judge acted as a 13th juror - one that we did not choose, and that he second guessed the jury's verdict."

The legal team is planning to appeal the decision.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from court

A former federal prosecutor says this sentence was more of a win for Combs than the government.

"The government is likely disappointed," Mark Chutkow tells me.

"The judge had some harsh words for Combs, but the sentence didn’t really reflect that."

Still, four years is not an insignificant amount of time, he says, especially when compounded by the asset seizures and $500,000 fine. We don't yet know what the asset seizures will involve.

The defence argued Combs was not a pimp to the women involved in this case, but rather that he was a "John", or consumer of prostitution.

The judge landed somewhere in the middle with this sentence, Chutkow says.

"You were no John," the judge said during sentencing. "You were more than that."

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from New York

Combs has been held for 13 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he and several high-profile defendants have complained about horrific conditions.

The centre is a jail, meaning defendants are only held there while they await trial and sentencing.

Combs will now be moved to a federal facility.

Which facility he is moved to is up to the Bureau of Prisons, though both legal sides and the judge can make recommendations.

"Diddy has to be isolated from the general population for his safety because he's a celebrity inmate, so that may limit the facilities he can be housed in," said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.

New Yorkers of all sorts have gathered outside the courthouse. Here is what the scene is like.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

I just spoke with lawyer Todd Spodek, who represented fake heiress Anna Sorokin - aka Anna Delvey.

"A 50-month sentence with a $500,000 fine and forfeiture underscores why federal jury trials are such a tremendous risk — judges can still weigh conduct a jury rejected," he tells me.

"But all things considered, this outcome is fair: it’s harsher than the defence wanted, yet far less than what prosecutors and probation demanded."

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

"I’m not surprised by the sentence, it’s certainly more than a slap on the wrist," says Cheryl Bader, a professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York.

"The judge had to walk a fine line" in sentencing Combs, she tells me. That's because some of the conduct related to the two crimes he was acquitted for overlapped with the guilty verdicts he was issued on two prostitution charges.

It’s unconstitutional for a judge to sentence a defendant for conduct he was acquitted for.

That said, "The judge has a certain amount of leeway to see what occurred in its breadth, what he heard in terms of the abuse," Professor Bader says.

She adds that the judge did not appear convinced by the defence’s claim that Combs was a changed man.

Diddy's adult children and mother filed out after an emotional day at court. In contrast to the tears and feelings they showed in the courtroom while asking the judge for a lenient sentence for their father, they are mostly stoic.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Savage
Music correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Shortly before he was arrested in September 2024, MTV celebrated Combs' "unparalleled" career by presenting him with the Global Icon Award.

The honour was timed to coincide with the release of The Love Album: Off the Grid – a record that included collaborations with Justin Bieber, Busta Rhymes, 21 Savage, John Legend, Mary J Blige and Burna Boy.

Now that he’s been sentenced, none of those artists are likely to work with him again. For an artist whose own ability behind the mic is limited (he once boasted that he cared more about writing cheques than writing rhymes) that spells disaster.

That said, Kanye West, a musician who’s no stranger to controversy himself, turned up to show support at Combs’ trial, which suggests there is a path back to music, even if its outside the mainstream.

In terms of his back catalogue, the story is more complicated. Immediately after his arrest, streams of Combs’ music jumped by 37% as curious listeners reacquainted themselves with his music. But as the charges against him became clear, and further allegations emerged, his streaming numbers slumped; and his US radio plays fell by 36%.

On streaming sites, his visibility in mainstream playlists has dropped by almost 59% over the last two years, according to analytics site Songstats.

Even so, he still has 8.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify – more than artists like Norah Jones, Tom Petty or Alanis Morissette. That’s in keeping with artists like R Kelly and Tory Lanez, who’ve seen their music remain popular despite jail sentences.

It seems that some fans don’t want to relinquish the songs that are important to them; while others are simply unaware of the criminality.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from outside court

Sean Combs’ daughters, sons, and other members of his entourage are leaving the courthouse now.

His mother Janice waved to the crowd as she left, with some people yelling out "we love you Mama Combs".

We’re waiting to see his lawyers exit the building, and if they will stop and talk to the media.

Stick with us.

Image source, Grace Goodwin / BBC

Cassie Ventura's lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, has just put out a statement:

"While nothing can undo the trauma caused by Combs, the sentence imposed today recognizes the impact of the serious offenses he committed," he said.

"We are confident that with the support of her family and friends, Ms. Ventura will continue healing knowing that her bravery and fortitude have been an inspiration to so many."

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Earlier this afternoon Giovanni Sairras, of the organisation Re-Entry One, spoke on behalf Combs in an effort to get him a lighter sentence.

The organisation helps previously incarcerated individuals re-acclimate to society upon release. After the judge sentenced Combs to 50 months in prison, Sairras told the BBC he was processing the decision.

He was glad the judge went below both the prosecution and probation office’s recommendation.

From reading the letters submitted on Combs’ behalf, "I know there’s rehabilitation". "I know that wherever he goes he’s going to make a tremendous impact," he said.

Sairras said his organisation would be open to working with Combs either behind bars or after his release to support programs for people who have been incarcerated.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

After issuing the sentence, Judge Subramanian took a moment to praise Cassie Ventura and the other victim, known as Jane Doe, as "strong women" who were willing to come forward and tell their stories.

He said they have "been through abuse most of us can’t imagine".

"We heard you," he told them. "I am proud of you for coming to the court to tell what really happened."

He told Combs that just as he had the power to hurt these women, he had the power to help them and other victims of abuse by using his "megaphone" and taking accountability.

The judge also addressed Combs directly and, by extension, his family.

"I know you feel you are in a dark place right now," he said, but the crimes committed were serious. "You and your family, you are going to get through this There is a light at the end of the tunnel."

Host Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty has been diving deep into the sentencing of hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs.

We’ll bring you an episode shortly with news from court and further reactions.

You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from court

Brown and DJ Easy are work colleagues but with opposite views of Diddy's sentence.

Brown says she is disappointed. Four years is not enough time in prison for Combs because of how much the victims suffered, she says. She thinks he has got a lesser sentence because of his celebrity status.

DJ, on the other hand, says Combs has been persecuted for his sexual “endeavours” and that the women stayed in relationships with him willingly.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

After the sentence was read, the judge took some time to deliver a speech to Combs.

He read statements from the victims about how he had hurt them, as well as quotes from Combs' family saying what they loved about him.

Combs occasionally tilted his head back and sighed as the judge told him there was light at the end of his sentence, and as he thanked women for coming forward about their abuse.

As everyone left the room, Combs’ massive entourage appeared dismayed and quiet as they gave each other hugs in the hallway.

A couple of members of his team shed a tear, while his children, who had been crying in court earlier in the afternoon, were calm.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from court

Three months ago Sean "Diddy" Combs fell to his knees after a jury acquitted him of sex trafficking and racketeering, but found him guilty of two lesser prostitution charges.

Today, a quiet Combs sat in his chair looking down as a judge sentenced him to more than four years in prison.

Combs was quiet and non-reactive for much of the judge’s speech.

Judge Subramanian told Combs he used his power to subjugate and abuse two women. "This is the reality of what happened," the judge said.

After court was adjourned, Combs turned around to look at his family and appeared to mouth the words "I love you, I’m sorry".

It was a different message from two months ago when a joyful Combs told his family after the verdict that he was "coming home".

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from outside court

The crowd outside the courthouse is now reacting to the news of Combs' sentence.

A man named Dennis tells me he thinks it's a fair punishment, and says Combs has to pay for his actions. But he also says Combs is a human who made mistakes.

An onlooker named Nicole, who was at the courthouse throughout Combs’ trial as well as his sentencing today, tells me she thinks the 50-month sentence is fair.

Nicole says she’s here as a supporter of hip-hop, history, and Combs’ music, but not Combs himself. She says she thinks the 50-month sentence is adequate to protect the victims.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Rerporting from court

This sentence is meant to send a signal to the public, Judge Subramanian said.

It is "a message to abusers and victims alike".

When victims come forward about crimes of abuse, they should trust that sharing their stories can lead to concrete actions, he said.

And for abusers, it should serve as a "deterrent".

He also orders Combs to pay a $500,000 fine.