Debunked: Viral photo of Sean 'Diddy' Combs in prison proven to be fake. Here's the truth.

Recently, an image circulated online claiming to show Sean "Diddy" Combs smiling in a prison yard while holding a basketball, accompanied by another individual holding his arm and talking to a third person. The image appeared to carry a TMZ watermark, suggesting it originated from the entertainment tabloid.

Social media users shared the picture with captions suggesting Combs was enjoying his time in prison, with some posts making false claims about him interacting with other inmates. However, TMZ confirmed that they never published this image and stated it was created using artificial intelligence.

Sean Combs was arrested on September 16, 2024, on federal charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering. He is currently serving a sentence of over four years following convictions on prostitution-related offenses. Combs' representatives confirmed that the circulating image was not authentic, emphasizing that it was an AI fabrication and does not reflect reality.

Reverse-image searches indicate that the doctored photo began spreading online in late November and early December 2025. No credible news outlet reported or verified the image as genuine. AI-detection tools produced mixed results, highlighting the limitations of current detection technology.

The AI-generated image appeared to have been extracted from a fake video shared by TMZ on TikTok and Instagram, with the outlet explicitly labeling it as fake. TMZ also noted that if images with their watermark are not found on their official site, they should be considered false.

Other misleading images claimed to show Combs in prison hugging inmates, taking selfies, or serving food, but none of these were verified as authentic. While real photos exist of Combs in prison, including some showing him with a gray beard, their authenticity could not be independently confirmed.

This incident adds to a series of false or exaggerated claims about Combs, including rumors involving public figures and events unrelated to his legal situation. Fact-checkers continue to monitor and debunk misleading content about him online.

Author: Zoe Harrison