In a gesture of camaraderie behind bars, Sean 'Diddy' Combs has helped organize a Thanksgiving dinner for 1,000 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he is currently serving a prison sentence. The 56-year-old hip-hop mogul, convicted earlier this year on charges related to transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution, contributed financially to the event alongside a group called Bankroll Bosses, purchasing extra food from the prison commissary to supplement the standard meal.
Combs, who was sentenced in October to four years and two months in prison and fined $500,000, has been held at the low-security facility since his conviction. The Thanksgiving initiative, which took place on November 28, 2025, involved inmates preparing and distributing meals across multiple buildings over two days. According to a former gang leader known only as B.I., who spoke to Us Weekly, the effort was a way to foster community among those incarcerated, many of whom feel isolated during the holidays.
"Thanksgiving, to me, is about making sure other people eat… everybody misses their family. People get depressed during the holidays," Combs said in a statement provided to Us Weekly through his publicist. The meals, lacking conventional kitchen tools, were improvised by inmate 'chefs' using ID cards to chop ingredients and boiling methods to cook, as microwaves, stoves, and cutlery are not available in the prison setting.
B.I., who helped coordinate the distribution, described the homemade quality of the food, saying, "The ‘chefs’ here make it taste like grandma cooked it." He added that the event served as a vital morale booster: "A lot of people don’t have anything… This was a way we give back." The dinner reached inmates in various units, hand-delivered to ensure broad participation among the facility's population.
FCI Fort Dix, located in Burlington County, New Jersey, houses around 3,000 male inmates in a low-security environment designed for non-violent offenders. Combs' involvement in the Thanksgiving meal comes amid his ongoing adjustment to life in federal custody, a stark contrast to his previous lifestyle as a music industry titan and party host. Prior to his incarceration, Combs was known for extravagant events, some of which prosecutors later described as involving coerced participation.
The charges against Combs stemmed from a broader federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. In his trial, which concluded in October 2025, evidence included testimony and videos detailing so-called 'freak-off' parties where women were allegedly forced into sexual acts. Combs has maintained his innocence on the more severe trafficking counts, though he was convicted on the transportation charge.
His prison activities appear aimed at rehabilitation and goodwill. Teaming with Bankroll Bosses, an inmate-led group focused on positive initiatives, Combs' contribution reportedly covered costs for items like additional turkey, sides, and desserts not provided in the standard prison fare. Officials at FCI Fort Dix have not publicly commented on the event, but sources familiar with the facility indicate such inmate-organized meals are occasionally permitted under supervised conditions to promote a sense of normalcy.
However, Combs' past continues to cast a shadow over his current efforts. In March 2024, surveillance footage surfaced showing him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in a hallway at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, on March 5, 2016. The video, obtained by CNN, depicted Combs, wearing only a towel and socks, chasing Ventura as she attempted to leave with her bags, pulling her to the ground by the neck, kicking her repeatedly, and dragging her back toward a room.
Ventura, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, later settled a civil lawsuit against Combs in November 2023 alleging years of abuse, including the hotel incident. Combs issued a public apology for the video in May 2024, stating on Instagram, "I was disgusted then when I did it. I am disgusted now." The footage played a pivotal role in his federal case, highlighting a pattern of alleged violence and coercion.
Prosecutors during the trial referenced Combs' 'freak-off' orgies, which reportedly occurred alongside high-profile parties and involved women transported across state lines. According to court documents, these events sometimes lasted days and included the use of drugs to ensure compliance. Videos reviewed by investigators, as reported by the New York Post, corroborated claims of non-consensual elements in some gatherings.
Adding to the scrutiny, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced in November 2025 the opening of a new investigation into a sexual assault allegation against Combs. The claim, detailed in a lawsuit filed by music producer Jonathan Hay, accuses Combs of an incident in 2020 where he allegedly masturbated into a shirt belonging to the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. and threw it at Hay, as well as forcing Hay to perform oral sex.
Combs' legal team has vehemently denied these accusations. Civil attorney Jonathan Davis stated on behalf of his client, "He denies as false and defamatory any claims that he sexually abused anyone." Davis further emphasized, "As Mr. Combs’ legal team has repeatedly stated for over a year now, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a media circus. He looks forward to vindicating himself in court, where such matters are decided — and not in the media — based on admissible, material evidence, not rank speculation and unsubstantiated allegations."
The Thanksgiving dinner initiative may represent an attempt by Combs to rebuild his public image from within the prison system. Inmates and supporters at FCI Fort Dix have praised the effort for bringing a touch of holiday spirit to an otherwise austere environment. B.I. noted that the collaboration with Combs helped unite different groups within the facility, transcending usual divides.
Looking ahead, Combs faces potential appeals of his conviction and sentencing, with his legal team preparing arguments for a federal appeals court. Additional civil suits related to the allegations continue to mount, complicating his path to release, projected around mid-2029 if no further complications arise. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Prisons has not indicated any changes to his classification or privileges stemming from the Thanksgiving event.
As the holiday season progresses, Combs' actions at Fort Dix highlight the challenges of redemption in the public eye. While some view the meal organization as a genuine act of kindness, others see it against the backdrop of his controversial history. For the inmates who partook, however, it provided a brief respite, underscoring the human elements that persist even in incarceration.