Usher has spoken out in defence of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, claiming the music mogul has been “misrepresented” and adding that he has nothing negative to say about his former mentor.
Combs, who was sentenced in October 2025 to four years and two months in prison following his conviction on federal prostitution-related charges, is currently awaiting the outcome of an appeal challenging his sentence.
Reflecting on his time living with Combs while recording his 1994 debut album, Usher told Forbes, “I don’t have anything negative to say about Sean Combs because my experience was not what the world has seen, and how he’s been misrepresented.”
He acknowledged that his perspective might be controversial, but emphasised the contributions Combs has made. “I can’t with any sense of humanity not recognise the valuable contributions that this man made for us as Black entrepreneurs, for us as businessmen, for us as people who have transitioned culture and ideas into something that’s tangible. So many people benefitted from what he created and I acknowledge that,” he said.
Usher also praised Combs’ entrepreneurial spirit, noting, “I realised that what I learned as a businessman before I even understood what business was came as a result of seeing the incredible things that he was able to do and the way that he positioned himself as a businessman.”
In July 2025, Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking, but found guilty of transportation for prostitution. He had pleaded not guilty to all five charges brought against him.
The legal proceedings followed allegations from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who accused Combs of a decade-long cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking. Two additional lawsuits were later filed by other women, including claims of sexual assault and rape involving Combs and singer Aaron Hall in the early 1990s. Combs denied all allegations, though he publicly apologised following CCTV footage of an incident involving Ventura.
Addressing the court ahead of his sentence, Combs expressed remorse to his former partners, victims of domestic violence, his family and his community, calling his behaviour “disgusting, shameful and sick.”
Combs recently requested a pardon from former President Donald Trump, who has ruled it out.
