Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has rejected a last-minute plea offer from federal prosecutors just days before the start of his sex crimes trial, confirming during a court hearing on Thursday that he will proceed to trial as scheduled next week.

Combs, 55, appeared in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on May 1 and stood before Judge Arun Subramanian to formally decline the prosecution’s proposed agreement.

The specific terms of the plea deal were not publicly disclosed, but prosecutors indicated it would have resulted in a reduced sentence if Combs had been found guilty after accepting the deal.

“I have, your honor,” Combs replied when asked by the judge if he had reviewed the offer.

“Yes I did, your honor,” he added when asked whether he was rejecting it.

Jury selection is set to begin Monday, May 5, in federal court. Opening statements are scheduled for May 12.

Combs is currently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center and will remain in custody throughout the trial.

At the pretrial hearing, Combs arrived in prison-issued clothing — a tan top and pants — and was seen carrying a black folder filled with documents.

He wore eyeglasses and was visibly grayer since his arrest in September.

He greeted his legal team, including attorney Teny Geragos, with handshakes and fist bumps and appeared to be in frequent communication with them throughout the proceeding.

Judge Subramanian ruled earlier this week that Combs may wear civilian clothing during the trial.

The judge permitted Combs to receive up to five button-down shirts, five pairs of pants, five sweaters, five pairs of socks, and two pairs of shoes without laces.

Jewelry was not explicitly prohibited.

During Thursday’s hearing, the court addressed several pretrial issues, including jury procedures and concerns over public commentary by attorneys connected to the case.

Judge Subramanian warned attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents one of the accusers, Dawn Richard, over recent public remarks she made to the BBC, stating that all attorneys involved must “adhere to their obligations under the rules of professional conduct.”

Diddy’s defense team previously requested a gag order in light of what they describe as prejudicial media statements made by attorneys representing alleged victims and witnesses.

In a letter submitted to the court earlier this week, Combs’ legal team pointed specifically to comments made by attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Combs’ former partner Cassie Ventura.

The letter cited Wigdor’s remarks regarding a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs allegedly pulling Ventura by the hair in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

The defense argued that continued media statements risk influencing the jury pool, stating, “Absent a Court order, we expect the publicity to not only continue, but escalate as trial commences.”

Jury selection will be conducted in groups of 50, with potential jurors brought individually before attorneys from both sides to answer detailed screening questions.

If any prospective juror raises a sensitive topic, it will be addressed privately in a sidebar session at the judge’s bench.

Combs faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking, stemming from a federal investigation that resulted in his arrest in September 2024.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Once a dominant figure in music and fashion, Combs’ image has shifted dramatically since the allegations surfaced.

Known for launching the Bad Boy Records label in the 1990s and for his Sean John fashion brand, Combs was previously recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and was profiled in major publications for his influence in pop culture.

Combs’ federal trial is expected to attract significant media attention, with security measures and courtroom access tightly managed during proceedings at the federal courthouse in Manhattan.