How did Harlem react to Diddy's verdict? Community voices skepticism

Diddy's 10-week-long trial ended, and the jury announced their verdict on July 2, 2025. He is convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution, one against his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and another count against an unnamed former partner who went by the name Jane during the trial. In addition to the above verdict, he was found not guilty of the charge of racketeering conspiracy, or of sex trafficking of Ventura and Jane.

Diddy was born in Harlem and was given a key to New York City by Mayor Eric Adams in 2023. He called the Bad Boy Records founder a "son of Harlem," and added that Sean Combs "has never forgotten where he came from". However, Combs had to return the key after the Mayor asked for it back when the clip of the rapper assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, emerged.

While Judge Subramanian has ordered that Combs remain in jail while waiting for his sentence, the public was not happy with the verdict. According to the descriptions in court, Diddy was painted as a violent and abusive man, and people were surprised he was not convicted on all charges. However, there were those who were not fazed by the outcome due to Combs' connections in high places, including his powerful legal team.

How did Harlem respond to Diddy's verdict?

The majority of the people were not happy that Diddy was convicted of only two charges out of all the charges that were pressed against him during his 10-week-long trial.

Sam Stigger, who grew up listening to artists from the mogul's record label, told Gothamist that Sean Combs meant "nothing" to the local community (Harlem). He was not a fan of Combs and is now "skeptical" of the music industry. He added:

"Do you see any signs or anybody celebrating? Anybody saying 'Go Diddy?' No... Because it’s wrong... I just feel that if you do something wrong, you should be punished for that... That’s the bottom line. It doesn’t matter who you are."

Denver Williams also responded to the verdict and called it "disheartening". She believed that Diddy's verdict was unfair because of all the resources he had with him. She also said:

"I believe all the women. I always will believe all the victims... I wouldn't know how to feel if I was those victims... It's just messed up... He needs to stay in that jail."

Jordan Thomas a.k.a. Jay Vlone, had something to say about the music industry. Through Sean Combs' trial, he hoped that the public would see the "dark side of the music industry". He added:

"There's other people in the industry that act like this, carry themselves this way, treat people this way and get away with it, because they have a lot of money to throw out their problems."

Thomas grew up in the same place as Combs. He said that the acquittal on some of the serious charges sets a "bad precedent". He concluded by saying:

"I feel like people have done way worse and gotten away with it... But at the end of the day, this is an injustice, bro."

While Diddy has been convicted on two charges, the date of sentencing has not been set by the court. Based on the two charges he is guilty of, he might face up to 10 years of prison for each charge, which could amount to two decades in prison for the former rap mogul.

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