Diddy says he taught a business course to inmates as he seeks leniency

Sean 'Diddy' Combs says in court papers that he designed and led a six-week business course for fellow inmates at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, part of his time in custody while awaiting sentencing on a federal case tied to the Mann Act. The filing describes the program as a six-week educational effort aimed at teaching business management, entrepreneurship and personal development.

The filing says Combs drafted a 15-page curriculum titled "Free Game with Diddy" and opened the course to all dorm mates, including Spanish speakers who were provided interpreters. The six-week program is described as an educational program designed to equip participants with essential skills in management and entrepreneurship, the lawyers said. Combs is asking a federal judge to release him on time served for prostitution-related counts as sentencing approaches.

Combs, 55, has been housed in a special dorm-style room at the Metropolitan Detention Center for high-profile detainees requiring extra protection. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3, and prosecutors are expected to seek a sentence of more than five years, according to court filings.

In Manhattan federal court, jurors acquitted the Bad Boy Records founder of the top charges after a two-month trial, though two women testified that he coerced them into participating in sexual acts during their relationships. The case centers on alleged baby-oil–fueled sex romps involving escorts who traveled across state lines, which prosecutors argued violated the Mann Act. Combs’ lawyers say the classroom venture was a separate, personal-development effort and not tied to the charges against him.

Combs has indicated he hopes to expand the program beyond the MDC, potentially offering similar classes to youth in the community and to other detainees. The defense filing emphasizes the "Free Game" course as one of the most impactful endeavors in his life.

Authorities have not independently confirmed the existence of the course. The Post’s report on the curriculum is based on the defense filing; officials at the Federal Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The case, which has kept a prominent figure in both rap history and pop culture in the headlines, underscores the broader conversation about rehabilitation programs in detention settings and how celebrities navigate legal challenges while incarcerated.

The dispute reflects ongoing legal tension over sentencing in high-profile cases and the extent to which ancillary programs—whether framed as education, rehabilitation, or personal development—are considered in determining a defendant's time. Jurors acquitted Combs of the most serious charges, but the Mann Act-related counts remain central to the court's forthcoming decision. Prosecutors’ potential sentence guidance and the judge’s interpretation of Combs’ conduct in custody will shape the next phase of this case.

With his public image intertwined with entertainment history, Combs’ pursuit of leniency through time-served and the reported classroom initiative adds a cultural dimension to a courtroom narrative that has captivated fans and observers across music, fashion and media. As observers await Oct. 3, the defense’s portrayal of an in-prison educational initiative contrasts with the forensic focus of the prosecution on the underlying acts alleged in the indictment.