Justin Bieber is said to be so deeply ‘disturbed’ by the news of Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ arrest on sex-trafficking charges that he’s cut himself off from the world.
Combs, 54, was arrested on Monday in New York and hit with an indictment accusing him of years of coercion and abuse while using blackmail and violence to control his victims.
He has also been accused of inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances referred to as ‘Freak Offs.’
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider said that new dad Bieber, 30, has been completely ‘thrown’ by the harrowing allegations and is grappling to make sense of them – especially given that he collaborated with Combs less than a year ago.
The source said of the fragile singer: ‘Bieber is so disturbed by the Diddy news and is unwilling to process it or discuss it so he has shut off.
Video resurfaces of Justin Bieber and Diddy following mogul’s arrest
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Justin Bieber is deeply ‘disturbed’ by the news of Sean ‘ Diddy’ Combs’ arrest for alleged sex-trafficking, insiders claim
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The rapper, 54, was arrested and jailed in connection with a federal sex trafficking case which has sent shockwaves through the music industry
‘So many people who helped to make him who he is were very close to Diddy and it has completely thrown him.
‘Justin hasn’t been responding on this since the home raids. He’s not going to.’
The insider added that Bieber also deeply regrets having collaborated with the disgraced mogul last year, and would never have done so had he known the allegations that have since come to light.
They continued: ‘He had a long break from Diddy when he believes most of this took place and he had distanced himself from him.
‘He was featured on Diddy’s most recent album, and had he known any of this, there is no way he would have done it.’
Bieber, who was just a child when he forged a friendship with Combs, featured on Combs’ track Moment, which appeared on his 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid.
Following the album’s release in October, Bieber reflected on his first encounter with Combs.
‘I remember going to my brother Diddy’s office to pitch him a song I wrote for him when I was like 14,’ he wrote on Instagram.
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Bieber, 30, was just a child when he forged a friendship with Combs (Pictured in 2010)
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An insider told DailyMail.com that Bieber is ‘so disturbed’ by the news that he has ‘shut himself off’
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The music mogul pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking
‘Sadly the song was trash haha and it would be a hard no from him.’
He continued: ‘Fast forward to a few years ago Puff asked if I would freestyle something for his upcoming love album. Wild full circle moment, love you @diddy.’
In March, old clips of Bieber and Combs resurfaced shortly after Homeland Security raided the music mogul’s properties in Miami and Los Angeles.
One video saw Combs standing next to the young pop sensation, aged 15, while telling the camera: ‘He’s having 48 hours with Diddy, where we hanging out and what we’re doing we can’t really disclose.
‘But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream.’
‘Disturbing’ footage of Diddy with young Justin Bieber emerges
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Creepy footage of Combs and Bieber appeared online after the rapper’s properties were raided as part of the ongoing sex trafficking investigation earlier this year
The hip hop star added: ‘I have been given custody of him. He’s signed to Usher and I had legal guardianship of Usher when he did his first album.
‘I don’t have legal guardianship of him [Bieber] but for the next forty-eight hours he’s with me and we’re gonna go full crazy.’
Bieber, wearing a black baseball cap and purple shirt smiles and looks up at Combs throughout the video, making small comments such as ‘yeah’ and ‘full crazy.’
The video was posted to social media and triggered an outpouring of criticism and concern.
Another resurfaced clip saw the rapper grilling a 16-year-old Bieber on why he hadn’t been speaking to him as much.
‘What’s up man, you good? Selling out arenas and everything?’ Combs asked the youngster.
‘Starting to act different, huh? You haven’t been calling me and hanging out the way we used to hang out.’
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One clip showed a 16-year-old Bieber appearing anxious as he responded to Combs’ questions
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In the video, Combs grilled Bieber about why he hadn’t spoken to him since his career took off
Diddy grills then-16-year-old Justin Bieber in resurfaced clip
Bieber appeared anxious as he responded to his musical colleague.
‘I mean you tried to get in contact with me throughout all my… and what not… but you never got my number,’ he said. ‘I’m going to tell you my number.’
Combs pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and was denied bail, despite his legal team’s request for him to be released for $50 million and kept electronically monitored.
The artist is accused of using ‘power and prestige’ to lure and intimidate women under ‘pretense of a romantic relationship’.
According to the indictment, he would then allegedly use force, threats and coercion to get the women to engage with male sex workers in the ‘Freak Offs,’ described as ‘elaborate and produced sex performances’ arranged and directed by Combs while he masturbated and often recorded them.
The indictment further stated that some ‘Freak Offs’ would last for days, requiring Combs and victims to receive IV fluids to recover from the exertion and drug use.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said the ‘Freak Offs’ stemmed from the star’s former on-again-off-again relationship with R&B singer Cassie, and were not coercive.
Prosecutors said they had interviewed more than 50 victims and witnesses, and are expecting the number to grow.