{"id":233550,"date":"2026-04-09T15:46:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/09\/diddy-tells-court-freak-offs-are-constitutionally-protected-art\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T15:46:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:46:58","slug":"diddy-tells-court-freak-offs-are-constitutionally-protected-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/09\/diddy-tells-court-freak-offs-are-constitutionally-protected-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Diddy Tells Court &#8216;Freak-Offs&#8217; Are Constitutionally Protected Art"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>All along, Diddy has been hoping to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/11\/diddy-enters-rehab-hopes-to-knock-time-off-prison-sentence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">knock time off of his prison sentence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>His attorneys are trying their hardest as they argue before the appeals court.<\/p>\n<p>One of their arguments is that the judge sentenced him improperly. <\/p>\n<p>More interestingly, they argue that his very narrow conviction is Unconstitutional \u2014 because \u201cfreak-off\u201d parties are First Amendment expression.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Diddy in 2023.\" class=\"wp-image-552475 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-640x960.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-720x1080.jpg 720w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_diddy_01-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">P. Diddy seen leaving Bauer Media on November 08, 2023.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Ricky Vigil\/GC Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-could-he-get-out-even-earlier-than-scheduled\">Could he get out even earlier than scheduled?<\/h2>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/04\/09\/diddy-appeals-conviction-hearing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TMZ<\/a><\/em> reports that the disgraced rapper\u2019s legal team is presenting an oddly compelling argument before a federal appeals court.<\/p>\n<p>The argument is, in essence, pretty simple: that the few charges on which Diddy was convicted, the \u201cfreak-offs,\u201d are Constitutionally protected activities.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, the jury failed to convict him of the actual crimes \u2014 like racketeering conspiracy. <\/p>\n<p>His convictions were for transporting sex workers \u201cfor purposes of prosecution.\u201d That is a crime under teh Mann Act.<\/p>\n<p>Diddy\u2019s attorneys are saying that the law doesn\u2019t apply, because the \u201cfreak-offs\u201d were transformative works of art.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Diddy on The Breakfast Club\" class=\"wp-image-552476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Diddy on The Breakfast Club\" class=\"wp-image-552476 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_01-Cropped.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Now-disgraced rapper Sean Diddy Combs on the \u2018The Breakfast Club\u2019 podcast.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: YouTube)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cFreak-offs and hotel nights were highly choreographed sexual performances involving the use of costumes, role play, and staged lighting,\u201d his attorneys arue.<\/p>\n<p>According to the attorneys, these were events \u201cwhich were filmed so Combs and his girlfriends could watch this amateur pornography later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His legal team notes: \u201cPornography production and viewing of this sort is protected by the First Amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The argument continues: \u201cAnd thus cannot constitutionally be prosecuted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors are calling these claims \u201cmeritless,\u201d but the appeals court may find it a compelling case.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Diddy answers questions for Vogue.\" class=\"wp-image-552477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Diddy answers questions for Vogue.\" class=\"wp-image-552477 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_02.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This scene of Diddy boasting about his parties to Vogue has not aged well.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: Vogue\/YouTube)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-his-team-is-also-complaining-about-his-sentence\">His team is also complaining about his sentence<\/h2>\n<p>Despite the horrors presented in court, Diddy only received a 50-month sentence. That is because he was only convicted of the least of these charges.<\/p>\n<p>His attorneys say that a typical sentence for transporting people for sex work is 15 months.<\/p>\n<p>(This is not the case on which to argue it but, obviously, sex work must be decriminalized.)<\/p>\n<p>As such, his team says that his sentence is excessive.<\/p>\n<p>To date, he has served 19 months. Scary to think that, even if the appeals court doesn\u2019t bite, he could be out in less than two years!<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Diddy Could Be Free Today | TMZ\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o8c0dgB9kwQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>According to the rapper\u2019s defense team, the judge\u2019s sentence was out of line.<\/p>\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n<p>They say that the judge considered evidence from Diddy\u2019s much more serious charges in issuing the sentence.<\/p>\n<p>Like it or not \u2014 and, really, who other than the man himself likes it \u2014 the jury acquitted him of racketeering and trafficking.<\/p>\n<p>Team Diddy doesn\u2019t like the idea that the judge considered anything, including the horrific video of Diddy\u2019s violent attack against Cassie Ventura, when sentencing their client.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Diddy on The Breakfast Club, now without the jacket.\" class=\"wp-image-552478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Diddy on The Breakfast Club, now without the jacket.\" class=\"wp-image-552478 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409_use_diddy_03-Cropped.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many of Diddy\u2019s old interviews don\u2019t seem so good, in hindsight.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: YouTube)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-will-the-appeals-court-decide\">What will the appeals court decide?<\/h2>\n<p>As we said earlier, sex work absolutely must be decriminalized. The government should not, and must not, tell people what to do with their own bodies.<\/p>\n<p>And porn \u2014 whether it\u2019s high art or just filmed on a phone (or somehow both) \u2014 is Constitutionally protected, and must remain so.<\/p>\n<p>The appeals court will have to determine whether Diddy\u2019s \u201cfreak-off\u201d parties qualify.<\/p>\n<p>One helpful tip may be that Constitutionally protected performance art does not generally have victims. At least, it isn\u2019t supposed to.<\/p>\n<p>But the rapper wasn\u2019t <em>convicted<\/em> for anything involving a victim. The jury gave him a pass for every charge where he allegedly had a victim who was a woman or a sex worker. Only time will tell how he court will rule.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/04\/diddy-legal-argument-constitutional-appeal-freak-offs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes All along, Diddy has been hoping to knock time off of his prison sentence. His attorneys are trying their hardest as they argue before the appeals court. One of their arguments is that the judge sentenced him improperly. More interestingly, they argue that his very narrow conviction is Unconstitutional \u2014 because [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":233552,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-233550","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}