Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has launched a fresh legal bid for freedom, filing an appeal against his 50-month prison sentence. This move has drawn a sharp reaction from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who criticised the rapper's legal team for targeting the presiding judge.
The Appeal and the Allegations Against the Judge
According to a report by Rolling Stone on December 24, Combs's appellate lawyer, Alexandra A.E. Shapiro, filed the appeal seeking his immediate release or a full resentencing. The core argument from the defence is that Judge Arun Subramanian overstepped his role.
The legal team claims the judge acted as a "thirteenth juror" by considering testimony and allegations that the jury itself did not accept during the trial. This includes references to statements from women like Cassie Ventura. They argue the sentence is in "direct conflict with the 2024 Sentencing Guidelines and core constitutional principles."
On October 3, 2025, Judge Subramanian sentenced Combs to 50 months in prison, followed by five years of probation and a $50,000 fine. This came after a federal jury convicted him on July 2, 2025, on two counts of transportation for prostitution, while acquitting him on other serious charges including racketeering.
Perez Hilton's Blunt Reaction to the Legal Strategy
Entertainment commentator Perez Hilton did not hold back in his response to the appeal filing. On his website, he expressed his view that Combs's lawyers are pulling out all the stops.
"Diddy’s legal team is still determined to get him out of jail ASAP, even going as far as to now point fingers at the judge!" Hilton wrote. He also speculated on the likely response from prosecutors, stating, "Federal prosecutors have a couple of months to respond before the case can go before the appellate court, but they likely won’t let him get away with this latest attempt to go free."
This appeal has thrust the high-profile case back into the media spotlight months after the trial concluded. Combs, who was arrested in September 2024, is currently serving his sentence with an expected release date of May 8, 2028, accounting for time already served.
What Comes Next in the Legal Process
The appeal document contends that Judge Subramanian insisted on imposing a "serious sentence" to reflect "aggravating factors," particularly "the coercion." This stands in stark contrast to the defence's original request during sentencing for a term of just 14 months.
The legal process now moves to the appellate court, where federal prosecutors will have an opportunity to file their counter-arguments. The outcome will determine whether Sean "Diddy" Combs remains behind bars or if a new sentencing hearing is ordered, potentially altering the trajectory of his legal saga.
