Sean "Diddy" Combs, one of the most successful music moguls in the history of rap, has been arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors allege he "abused, threatened, and coerced women", and said he "creating a criminal enterprise" also involved in forced labour, kidnapping, arson and bribery. The star has pleaded not guilty and his lawyer said he "didn't do these things".
A judge denied him bail after prosecutors argued he was a threat to the community. The court case comes after a year in which the musician has faced lawsuits from several women, including his long-time partner Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse. In a statement last December, Mr Combs defended himself against what he described as "sickening allegations" made by "individuals looking for a quick payday".
"Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged," he said. Mr Combs - who has also gone by the names Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love - essentially rewrote the rules of hip-hop in the 1990s, but his career has been punctuated by controversies. Here is a timeline of his career and the accusations against him.
Sean John Combs was born in Harlem and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. His mother, Janice, was a teacher's assistant, while his father Melvin was a former member of the US Air Force who became an associate of the drug-trafficker Frank Lucas, who later inspired the Ridley Scott film American Gan.