Sean “Diddy” Combs, the legendary hip-hop mogul, is making headlines once again—this time from behind bars. His legal team has filed a dramatic appeal asking the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for his immediate release from federal prison, or at the very least, a reduction in his sentence.

Combs, 56, was sentenced in 2025 to 50 months in prison after being convicted on two counts under the Mann Act. He was acquitted of more serious allegations including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, but his attorneys argue that the judge in the case, Arun Subramanian, overstepped by considering unproven claims of abusive behavior to impose a harsher sentence than typical for these charges.

In an 84-page urgent appeal, Combs’ team highlights that most defendants with similar convictions serve less than 15 months, raising questions about fairness and proportionality. The appeal also contends that some evidence, including recordings of consensual adult encounters, should be protected under the First Amendment—a claim previously rejected at trial.

The case has sparked intense debate online and in the entertainment world. While some see the appeal as a strategic effort to correct what they view as an unjust sentence, others criticize it as an attempt by a wealthy celebrity to evade accountability. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton called it simply an “attempt to go free,” reflecting the broader public scrutiny surrounding the case.

Combs is currently serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, with a projected release date of May 2028 if the appeal is denied. The appellate court has agreed to fast-track the case, meaning oral arguments could take place as early as April 2026.