Justin Bieber breaks silence on Diddy allegations amid sex trafficking trial
Troubled singer Justin Bieber has insisted he was not targeted by rapper P Diddy.
Bieber, whose had four UK number ones, said widespread fears shared by fans he was a victim of the music mogul "detracts [focus] from the justice these victims rightfully deserve" in a statement released on Thursday. It came in response to speculation the singer, 31, may have been abused by Diddy during his early years in the music industry - although this is not an allegation for which the rapper stands trial.
A video of the pair resurfaced last year and was described by some Bieber fans as "disturbing". It showed Combs and Bieber, who was a minor at the time, hanging out for "48 hours". The pair also worked together on Diddy's album The Love Album: Off the Grid, released in September 2023.
But the spokesperson for Bieber said in a statement, published by TMZ, reads: "Although Justin is not among Sean Combs' victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him. Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve." Sources also informed TMZ on Thursday the Coming Home rapper never abused Bieber in any way.
The insiders stated the interactions in the video were simply "performative" - and explained Bieber was closer to the rapper's sons rather than Combs, who is 24 years his senior.
Combs, who has won three Grammy Awards, was last year arrested in the state of New York on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, which he has denied. Bieber was reportedly "so disturbed by the Diddy news".
A source told Mail Online at the time: "Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off... So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him. Justin hasn't been responding on this since the home raids. He's not going to. He was featured on Diddy's most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it."
The arrest came just one year after The Love Album: Off the Grid was released. It quickly became Diddy's fifth top ten on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
But now the 55-year-old star stands trial in New York City, accused of a number of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. The father of seven denies each of these.
Proceedings on Thursday heard P Diddy, whose debut album No Way Out sold more than seven million copies in the US alone, allegedly threatened Cassie Ventura during their 11-year relationship.
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