Entertainment
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs pleads for mercy ahead of sentencing
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs pleads for mercy ahead of sentencing
The hip-hop mogul says he is no longer running from his “many mistakes”. He also addresses the infamous CCTV footage from an LA hotel in 2016, which showed him attacking his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Combs was convicted of two prostitution-related charges in July, following a trial lasting almost eight weeks, but was cleared of more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
In the letter, the 55-year-old admits “past wrongs” but says he is no longer running from his “many mistakes”.
He also addresses the infamous CCTV footage from an LA hotel in 2016, which showed him attacking his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“First and foremost, I want to apologise and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct,” Combs writes. “I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs.”
The rapper describes the last two years – which started with a civil lawsuit filed by Cassie in November 2023 – as the “hardest” of his life, but admits: “I have no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself.”
Since his arrest in September 2024 and subsequent time in prison, the rapper says he has “had to look in the mirror like never before” and admits his “downfall was rooted in my selfishness”.
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Combs is due to be sentenced on Friday and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors have called for at least 11 years, while his defence team argues he should serve no more than 14 months. The latter would see him walk free almost immediately after time already served.
His letter comes after several filed by witnesses who testified during the trial, including Cassie, who has urged the judge not to be lenient and expressed fears for her safety.
She alleged on the witness stand that she was coerced and sometimes blackmailed into taking part in sex sessions with male escorts. Combs has strenuously denied allegations of sexual abuse, and jurors cleared him of sex trafficking, only finding him guilty of the charges relating to hiring the sex workers.
However, his legal team admitted from the beginning that he had been violent in the past.
‘I could not forgive anyone putting a hand on one of my daughters’
Talking about the 2016 CCTV footage – which showed Combs, wearing only a towel and socks, attacking Cassie in a hallway – he says in his letter: “The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily.
“I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.”
He goes on to say he feels sorry “for something that I couldn’t forgive someone else for: if they put their hands on one of my daughters.”
The footage was played several times during his trial after first being made public by CNN in May 2024.
The hip-hop mogul also references “Jane”, another former girlfriend who testified against him in court, who did not give her real name.
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“I thought I was providing for Jane concerning her and her child, but after hearing her testimony, I realised that I hurt her,” he writes. “For this I am deeply sorry. I lost my way … Lost in the drugs and the excess.”
‘The old me died in jail’
Combs goes on to describe his time in prison, saying he has been “humbled and broken to my core” and that there “have been so many times that I wanted to give up”.
“The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you – I choose to live.”
Combs says he has had therapy and has been “working diligently to become the best version” of himself, and that there has been some good to come out of his time in prison.
“For starters, I am now sober for the first time in 25 years. I have been trying my best to deal with my drug abuse and anger issues and take accountability as well as positive steps towards healing.”
Asking Judge Subramanian for “mercy” for himself, his seven children and his 84-year-old mother, he says: “I have failed my children as a father. My father was murdered when I was three years old so I know first-hand what it is to not have a father. More than anything, I just want the opportunity to return home and be the father that they need and deserve.”
Combs goes on to say he is “scared to death” at the thought of spending more time away from his family, and that he no longer cares “about the money or the fame”.
And as previously detailed by his lawyers, he describes conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn as inhumane – but says he is not looking for “pity or sympathy”, and that his time there has “changed me forever!”.
Combs concludes by vowing to never commit another crime again: “I can’t change the past, but I can change the future … I’m committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person.
“Today, I humbly ask you for another chance – another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs pleads for mercy ahead of sentencing
Skynews
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Entertainment
Shimmer and Style: Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Colman Domingo Light Up the Emmys Red Carpet
Shimmer and Style: Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Colman Domingo Light Up the Emmys Red Carpet
From custom metallics to soft pastels and playful statuette cosplay, television’s top stars bring high fashion to Los Angeles
Top television stars gathered in Los Angeles on Monday evening for the annual Emmy Awards, showcasing an array of creative outfits and modern styles.
The ceremony, often described as television’s version of the Oscars, brought actors together at the Peacock Theater to celebrate the year’s best performances and share memorable fashion choices with fans worldwide.
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Shimmering gold and silver fabrics were popular choices throughout the arrival walk. Zendaya chose an embroidered silver gown by Prada paired with diamond earrings, while Selena Gomez appeared in a fitted, floor-length gold dress by Louis Vuitton.
The host for the night, Mariska Hargitay, wore a bright red gown with a trailing design, attending alongside her daughter in matching styles that paid tribute to her mother, actor Jayne Mansfield.
Other guests chose calm, lighter colors such as soft lavender, sky blue, and gentle green. Actors Elle Fanning and Sarah Pidgeon selected simple, elegant slip dresses that focused on subtle beading and clean silhouettes.
Menswear also showed fresh variety, with Colman Domingo combining a tailored jacket with a colorful waist sash. Adding humor and fun to the red carpet, actor Meg Stalter appeared dressed as the winged Emmy trophy itself, bringing a lighthearted touch to the celebration.
Shimmer and Style: Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Colman Domingo Light Up the Emmys Red Carpet
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Entertainment
Celine Dion Makes Emotional Stage Comeback After Six Years
Celine Dion Makes Emotional Stage Comeback After Six Years
Canadian music superstar Celine Dion has made an emotional return to the concert stage after more than six years away, breaking down in tears as she reunited with thousands of fans during the opening night of her highly anticipated Paris residency.
The 58-year-old singer performed at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, near Paris, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, marking her first full concert since March 2020.
The comeback came after years of uncertainty surrounding Dion’s career following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness, spasms and other debilitating symptoms.
Dion revealed her diagnosis publicly in December 2022, explaining that the condition had affected her ability to walk, sing and perform.
The illness forced her to cancel concerts and eventually abandon the remaining dates of her Courage World Tour, leaving fans unsure whether she would ever return to the stage for a full concert.
But on Saturday night, Dion answered that question emphatically.
She opened the Paris show with her French-language song “On Ne Change Pas” and quickly became emotional as the significance of her return sank in.
The singer struggled to hold back tears before continuing with the performance, while the audience responded with loud cheers and applause.
Dion thanked her fans for standing by her throughout her difficult years away from the stage and recalled the promise she had made to return.
“I made a promise to come back and to be back on stage. Here I am singing for you, and singing for me,” she told the audience.
She also acknowledged the difficult journey that preceded her comeback, describing the road back to live performance as longer and harder than anticipated.
For Dion, the Paris concert was not simply the start of another series of shows. It represented the culmination of years of treatment, rehabilitation and determination to regain enough strength to perform again.
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Reports on her preparations said the singer worked on her physical and vocal condition with a combination of therapy, medication, immunotherapy, Pilates and ballet training as she prepared for her return.
Her return to the stage comes two years after another major public comeback.
In July 2024, Dion performed “Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, delivering an emotional performance that marked her first public singing appearance in several years.
That performance was widely seen as a sign that she was determined to return to music despite the challenges posed by her condition.
Saturday’s concert, however, was a much greater undertaking because it required Dion to perform an entire set before a packed arena.
She performed several of the songs that have defined her career, including “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself” and “Because You Loved Me,” while also showcasing her French-language repertoire. (Reuters)
The concert launched a sold-out Celine Dion Paris 2026 residency, which has generated enormous interest among fans around the world.
The residency was initially announced in March with 10 performances scheduled for September and October. Additional dates were later added following overwhelming demand, bringing the current series to 26 concerts, with performances extending into 2027. (Reuters)
Dion’s official website announced the initial Paris engagement as a limited series beginning on September 12, 2026. (Celine Dion)
The demand for tickets was extraordinary. Reports said millions of fans attempted to gain access to the ticket sale, while the shows quickly sold out.
The singer’s return also sparked celebrations across Paris, with fans gathering outside her hotel and at other locations to express their excitement ahead of the concert.
Paris itself embraced the comeback, with fan events and activities organised around the residency, including a large karaoke celebration featuring Dion’s songs.
For many fans, the significance of the concert went beyond entertainment.
Dion’s absence from the stage had been closely linked to her health struggles, making her decision to undertake a demanding concert residency a major personal and professional milestone.
Her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis had brought an abrupt interruption to a career that had already established her as one of the world’s most successful recording artists.
The condition is rare and can cause progressive muscle stiffness and painful spasms. Dion’s health challenges eventually became so severe that she was forced to step away from touring.
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Her 2024 documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, also gave audiences a closer look at the impact of the condition on her life and career.
Despite the setbacks, Dion continued to work toward a return.
In April 2026, she released “Dansons,” a new French-language song written by renowned French songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman, adding to the momentum surrounding her comeback.
Her connection with France has also remained particularly strong throughout her career. Dion has achieved major success with both French and English-language music and has repeatedly described France as an important part of her artistic journey.
That connection was evident during Saturday’s concert, which featured a substantial amount of French-language material.
The emotional reaction from the audience underscored Dion’s enduring popularity.
As she sang, fans joined in, applauded and celebrated the return of an artist many had feared they might never see perform a full concert again.
The comeback also reaffirmed Dion’s status as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with a career spanning decades and global hits that have reached audiences across generations.
Among her most recognisable songs is “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song from the blockbuster film Titanic, which became one of the defining recordings of her career.
Dion’s Paris return now opens a new chapter in a career that appeared uncertain just a few years ago.
While she continues to manage stiff-person syndrome, her first full concert in more than six years demonstrates her determination to remain connected with audiences and continue performing.
For the thousands who watched her return in Paris, the tears, cheers and standing ovations represented more than the comeback of a global music star.
They marked the return of an artist who spent years battling a rare neurological condition, stepped away from the stage and ultimately kept her promise to come back.
Celine Dion is back on stage — and her emotional Paris comeback has given fans around the world a powerful reminder of her enduring voice, resilience and connection with her audience.
Celine Dion Makes Emotional Stage Comeback After Six Years
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Entertainment
Veteran Nollywood Actress Cries Out for Financial Help Over Cervical Cancer Battle
Veteran Nollywood Actress Cries Out for Financial Help Over Cervical Cancer Battle
Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotunde Ogundimu, has appealed to Nigerians and well-meaning individuals for financial assistance as she continues her battle with cervical cancer, a condition she says has subjected her to severe pain and prolonged treatment.
The actress, who has reportedly been battling the disease since 2024, made the emotional appeal as she struggles to raise the funds required to continue her medical treatment.
Ogundimu, known for her roles in several Nigerian movies and television productions, expressed concern over her worsening financial situation, saying the cost of treatment had become difficult for her to bear.
According to the actress, she is currently going through considerable physical and financial challenges and needs support to continue receiving medical care.
The veteran actress appealed to Nigerians to come to her aid, stressing that her immediate priority is to regain her health and overcome the illness.
Her plea has generated concern among fans and members of the Nigerian entertainment industry, with many expressing sympathy and calling for support for the actress during the difficult period.
Ogundimu seeks support to continue treatment
The actress’ disclosure has once again drawn attention to the enormous financial burden often associated with prolonged cancer treatment in Nigeria.
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Cancer patients frequently require a combination of medical consultations, laboratory investigations, medications and other forms of treatment, which can place considerable financial pressure on patients and their families.
For Ogundimu, the challenge has reportedly persisted since her diagnosis and treatment began in 2024.
The actress is therefore seeking assistance from individuals, organisations, colleagues in the entertainment industry and other well-meaning Nigerians who may be able to contribute towards her continued treatment.
Fans rally around veteran actress
Following her appeal, messages of concern and encouragement have continued to emerge from members of the public who expressed their desire to see the veteran actress recover.
Ogundimu’s situation has also renewed discussions about the challenges confronting veteran actors, particularly those who may no longer have regular acting jobs but require substantial financial resources when faced with serious health conditions.
The actress’ appeal is coming at a time when several Nigerian entertainers have publicly sought financial assistance to cope with major medical challenges.
As Ogundimu continues her treatment, her supporters have urged Nigerians to offer whatever assistance they can and to keep her in their prayers.
Newstrends.ng wishes Omotunde Ogundimu strength and a successful recovery as she continues her battle with the disease.
Veteran Nollywood Actress Cries Out for Financial Help Over Cervical Cancer Battle
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