Diddy Rejected a Plea Deal — What That Could Mean for the Future of His Legal Case

They say life comes at you fast, and no one knows that as much as Sean "Diddy" Combs. The music mogul, once known for setting examples of Black excellence and opulence, was arrested in September 2024 for multiple charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution purposes. The charges came after Diddy was the subject of over 300 lawsuits detailing domestic violence, illicit sex parties known as "Freak Offs," and drug-facilitated sexual assault.

On May 5, 2025, Diddy's trial began, sparking the beginning of one of the culture's most anticipated legal cases. As news of the case broke, it was revealed he could've avoided the lengthy trial if he had accepted a plea deal before proceedings began.

Let's get into Diddy's plea deal offer, plus other details about the trial.

Since the allegations of Diddy's alleged behavior began, he has maintained his innocence. So, few should've been surprised when he stood on business days before his trial began.

According to , Diddy rejected a plea deal given to him by federal prosecutors on Thursday, May 1. When asked if he wanted to take the offer, the details of which weren't publicly disclosed, he stated in court he wasn't interested and would be moving forward with denying any illegal activity.

"Have you rejected the government’s offer?” District Judge Arun Subramanian, the overseer of the trial, asked.

"Yes, your honor.”

Diddy and his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, discussed the plea deal offer beforehand. Typically, when a plea deal is offered, the government wants the defendant to take it to avoid a lengthy trial, which could result in a harsher sentence. Just for those keeping score, Diddy's possible charges had a chance of resulting in him spending life in prison.

Much like Gill Scott-Heron's 1970 classic, Diddy's trial will not be televised (no, we're not calling this a revolution; not too much, now!) Unlike other notable trials, such as one of the biggest trials of our lifetime — the O.J. Simpson murder trial — the rapper's case won't be immediately available for the world to see. According to USA Today, all electronic media is prohibited because Diddy is facing federal criminal charges.

The restrictions put on Diddy were placed under a Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53 since the criminal rules were adopted in 1946. The rule bars both photographs and broadcasting from the courtroom.

Unfortunately, there isn't a way to watch Diddy's trial directly. Due to the laws, no one can watch the trial live. However, media correspondents like journalists and Bloomberg News contributor Meghan Cunniff, The Breakfast Club producer Loren LoRosa, and independent journalist Milagro Gramz are out here doing the Lord's work to inform the masses.

Meghan even shared on X (formerly Twitter) that those wanting to get daily updates on the case should look to reporters who have electronic access to the trial.

"A reminder that most of the 'coverage' of Diddy’s trial is from people who aren’t actually there," Meghan said. "If you want to know what’s actually going on, follow reporters who are on the ground and have the credentials to bring electronics into the courthouse."

If watching the case via social media isn't enough, ABC News announced a new show following the trial daily, per Billboard. The show, Burden of Proof: The Case Against Diddy, starred GMA3 co-host Eva Pilgrim, who will analyze what’s going on inside the courtroom.