It has no doubt been a difficult year for Janice Combs, whose son Sean 'Diddy' Combs was indicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in September, along with multiple allegations of sexual assault and abuse.
As he awaits trial in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, and faces up to life imprisonment if he is found guilty, few of his friends and family have spoken out in his defence. However, his mother Janice Combs has recently done just that.
Combs' mother Janice has released a statement through her attorney, Natlie G. Figgers saying: 'It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth, but for a narrative created out of lies.
'To bear witness what seems to be like a public lynching of my son before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words. Like every human being, my son deserves to have his day in court, to finally share his side, and to prove his innocence.
'My son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things, such as denying he has ever gotten violent with an ex-girlfriend when the hotel’s surveillance showed otherwise. Sometimes, the truth and a lie become so closely intertwined that it becomes terrifying to admit one part of the story, especially when that truth is outside the norm or is too complicated to be believed.
'I am not here to portray my son as perfect because he is not. He has made mistakes in his past, as we all have.' While Combs plans to plead not guilty in court and has denied all allegations made against him, the tide has certainly turned when it comes to public opinion.
So, who is Sean Combs' mother? Here's everything you need to know.
Who is Janice Combs?
Janice Combs is the mother of Sean Combs, otherwise known as P Diddy or Puff Daddy. She is also the mother of Combs' sister, Keisha Combs. As such, her grandchildren include King Combs, Justin Dior Combs, Chance Combs, Jessie James Combs and D'Lila Star Combs.
She was born in December 1940 and is 83 years old. Janice married Combs' father Melvin, who died in a car accident in 1971, and later became a single parent. Janice reportedly had several jobs to provide for her two children. She worked as a teacher at a local daycare centre, a school-bus driver and an attendant for children with special needs.
Over the years, Combs has credited Janice for being his role model and the reason why he has such a strong work ethic. During Combs' interview with Oprah Winfrey, he also said that his mother didn't tell him that his father was a drug dealer growing up in order to protect him. They have remained incredibly close over the years, with Combs bringing Janice as his guest to the MTV VMAs last year.
Janice Combs' TV appearances
Given her son is one of the most famous music moguls in the world, Janice has appeared on TV several times over the years. On IMDB, she's credited as starring in America's Next Top Model in 2003, True Hollywood Story in 2006, I Want To Work For Diddy in 2008 and helped with the set of the 2022 thriller, Ear 2 Ear.
Which celebrities does Janice Combs know?
Janice has, unsurprisingly, mixed with a lot of famous people in her time. Not least at her son's infamous white parties, which have gained a lot of attention recently in light of Combs' criminal charges.
Here are some of the stars Janice has been pictured with over the years.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).