As Sean "Diddy" Combs languishes behind bars, awaiting the looming trial, his connection with his cherished septet of children has been reduced to fleeting phone calls. The 54-year-old music mogul finds himself incarcerated after his arrest on September 16th, charged with heinous crimes of sex trafficking, racketeering, and facilitating prostitution. Despite his fervent plea of innocence, bail has been denied twice, leaving him to grapple with the reality of his situation.
A source intimately acquainted with the matter divulges to PEOPLE that Combs, father to Quincy (33), Justin (30), Christian (26), Chance (18), Jessie and D'Lila (both 17), and the youngest, Love (23 months), has managed "fleeting conversations with his family members and beloved children over the phone."
"His heart is heavy with concern for his children's welfare," the insider reveals. "With three minors under his care, two of whom now find themselves without a living parent due to his incarceration, and four of his seven children devoid of both parents' presence, the situation is dire."
Combs, steadfast in his assertion of innocence, shares Christian, Jessie, and D'Lila with the late model and actress Kim Porter, who passed away in 2018 at 47. Quincy, originally Porter's son with Al B. Sure!, was later adopted by Combs. Justin is his son with stylist Misa Hylton, while Chance is Sarah Chapman's daughter. The youngest addition, Love, was born to Dana Tran in October 2022.
A second source close to the family's heart shares that the Combs children are "reeling from shock and grief," their world shattered by their father's arrest. "It's a heart-wrenching sight to behold their vulnerability," the source laments. "For them, he's not just Diddy – he's Dad, the ever-loving, devoted parent they've always known."
During Combs' arraignment in a New York City court on September 17th, where he vehemently denied the charges, Christian sat in the third row, poring over the 14-page indictment against his father. As the judge decreed that the rapper would remain in custody without bail pending trial, Combs turned towards his son and family, placing his hand over his heart, a poignant gesture of love and reassurance amidst adversity.
Accused of forcing women into elaborate, days-long sex performances dubbed "freak offs," prosecutors allege that Combs leveraged drugs like cocaine, ketamine, and oxycodone, coupled with his influence, to coerce and intimidate his victims. Some of these heinous acts were allegedly filmed without the victims' knowledge, and authorities uncovered over 1,000 bottles of baby oil, among other "freak off supplies," during raids of his Los Angeles and Miami homes in March.
In a failed attempt to secure his release, Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, proposed a $50 million bail package, including a $50,000 bond. Agnifilo also disclosed that Combs is undergoing "treatment and therapy for issues that he respectfully requires, and he's actively engaged in it." Though he refrained from divulging the specifics, citing confidentiality.
"With all his energy, might, and the unwavering confidence of his legal team, he will vigorously fight these charges," Agnifilo vowed outside the courtroom on September 17th. "I anticipate a protracted battle, with a favorable outcome for Mr. Combs."
The next chapter in this saga unfolds on October 9th, at 2 p.m., with a hearing scheduled for Combs.
