Weeks after claiming to be sober, Sean “Diddy”Combs was allegedly caught drinking in prison
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the once-celebrated music mogul turned convicted inmate, has reportedly been caught drinking homemade alcohol inside prison – just weeks after tearfully declaring to a judge that he was sober for the first time in 25 years.
Combs, 56, is currently serving a four-year sentence at Fort Dix federal prison in New Jersey after being found guilty on prostitution-related charges. But any hope of redemption he promised in court now appears to have been overshadowed by this latest embarrassment.
According to reports, the rapper and entrepreneur – famous for his lavish lifestyle and chart-topping hits under his “Bad Boy” label – was allegedly discovered sipping prison-brewed alcohol during a routine inspection by guards. The illicit drink, known among inmates as “hooch,” is typically made by fermenting fruit, sugar and bread in plastic containers hidden from prison staff.
The incident comes less than a month after Combs wrote a remorseful letter to Judge Arun Subramanian ahead of his sentencing. In it, he apologised for his past behaviour and insisted he was finally turning his life around.
“I am sober for the first time in 25 years,” he wrote in the emotional statement, describing his time in custody as a period of “reflection, humility and accountability.” Combs also pleaded for leniency, promising to “use this opportunity to become a better man.”
Now, those promises appear to ring hollow. While Fort Dix officials have not confirmed details of the alleged drinking incident, any inmate caught consuming or producing alcohol can face disciplinary action. That could include solitary confinement, loss of privileges, or additional charges.
For Combs, whose empire once spanned music, fashion and media, the humiliation is yet another stain on a reputation already in freefall. The hip-hop star who once declared “Can’t stop, won’t stop” in his 1997 hit Victory now faces the grim irony of being unable to stop even behind bars.
Before his downfall, Diddy’s name was synonymous with success. He founded Bad Boy Records in the 1990s, helped launch the careers of stars like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, and amassed a fortune through ventures in fashion, liquor and television. But in recent years, his image has crumbled under mounting legal troubles and allegations of abuse and misconduct, all of which he denies.
The court heard during sentencing that Combs had sought treatment for substance abuse and had undergone counselling. His defence portrayed him as a man finally confronting decades of excess. Yet the reports of him drinking inside prison have reignited criticism that the rapper’s public repentance was little more than performance.
Prison insiders say the culture of homemade alcohol at Fort Dix is an open secret, despite efforts by staff to stamp it out. “Everyone knows people find ways,” one former inmate told US media. “But for someone like Diddy to get caught – that’s reckless. He’s supposed to be setting an example now.”
The alleged breach may also complicate any future hopes Combs has of early release or parole. Judges and parole boards often weigh an inmate’s conduct heavily when determining eligibility.
Neither Combs nor his representatives have commented publicly on the claims. His legal team has previously maintained that he remains committed to rehabilitation and self-improvement.
Whether this latest controversy derails those efforts remains to be seen. For now, it adds yet another chapter to the long and turbulent story of Sean “Diddy” Combs – a man who once ruled the charts, only to find himself battling his own demons in a cell.