Diddy’s reputation has been damaged, but can he find a way back?

After the verdict was made at the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial in New York on Wednesday, sentiment boiled in a fierce confrontation between fans and protesters outside who expressed objections to the outcome.

Some believe that the rap star should be guilty of a more serious crime, not just the two smaller charges he was convicted of.

But they outnumbered the dog-protagonist influencers and fans, who chanted “Free Didi” and “Let him go” and sprayed each other in baby oil.

The mixed jury verdict did not yield obvious results – but was considered the star’s expectations.

However, he still faces a lot of imprisonment and dozens of civil law cases. With months of ugly charges and revelations and two convictions, his reputation will be damaged forever.

But some observers believe it is unlikely to stop him from trying to make a comeback.

As songwriter, rapper, producer and record label Impresario, Combs (formerly known as Puff Daddy) was one of the driving forces of hip-hop and R&B in the 1990s.

He pushed the careers of the infamous Big and Mary J Blige to his Bad Boy Records tag, signed on to acts such as the 112-year-old Faith Evans, Mase and Janelle Monae, and worked with stars including Mariah Carey, Usher and Busta Rhymes.

He won three Grammy Awards as an artist and won his biggest pop hit with the pop song I Miss You and sampled every breath of the police in 1997 – his tribute after the big murder.

Los Angeles Times writer August Brown said Comms is “one of the most famous people in hip-hop.”

“He is a big figure in developing this genre and the music industry as a whole into commercial products.”

Like many people at the pinnacle of the music industry, he also hosts luxurious parties. But dirty details appear in legal cases, revealing the darker side.

These so-called “freak discounts” are hotel sex that can last for days, including multiple male escorts, regular violence and a lot of drugs and baby oil.

The question for the jury is whether this is a criminal business designed to force two alleged victims to engage in sexual acts against their will, or whether women are willing to participate, as Combs claims.

The defense argued that these orgy were “delusional” but agreed-organizing them is not a crime.

Finally, the jury agreed, and he was convicted of the most serious aggravated charges of conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking.

Mr Brown told BBC World Service: “What the jury is just unconvincing is that this constitutes Diddy’s extreme baroque, violent and drug-like sex life.

“It’s not to say that this is impossible, but they just don’t think it’s a ‘shadow beyond doubt’.”

However, Coms was convicted of two counts of transporting two ex-girlfriends, including singer Cassie, in sexual acts and prostitution.

When sentenced in October, he will face 10 years in prison for each charge. However, these sentences may be below the maximum value, and are conducted at the same time, and this year he will be deducted in prison. Therefore, he will likely be free in a few years.

Brown said his supporters will be waiting — but most will be reluctant to accept a comeback.

“In his case, I can’t imagine any kind of redemption arc [remaining] In view of this, as an artist or music tycoon.

“I think the public will remember that he is an important figure, even if he has not been convicted for the worst case scenario, his name is now permanently linked to this very difficult charge.”

Alvin Blanco, content director at Hiphopwired.com, agreed Combs was too much to make a comeback. “He will definitely try it, but I think the damage from this is really irreparable.”

Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of African American Studies at Duke University in North Carolina, also believes that there is no doubt that these revelations have damaged the legacy of the comb because of the one who helped “from slums to mainstream American to mainstream globally.”

But, Jem Aswad, executive editor of variety shows, said his influence on music has diminished even before the allegations were accused.

“He really doesn’t have a career in music anymore, and it’s been 15 years,” Aswad told BBC News.

“That’s not to say he’s not popular, although he’s not popular lately – he’s just in other businesses. He’s got into drinks, he’s got into clothing, he’s got into many other businesses.

“Everything he’s done in music over the last 15 years is for fun. I think he released two, maybe three albums during that period, and they’re doing pretty well, frankly, they’re OK.”

However, his stock is still high. His last record, Love Album: Off the Grid, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2024. The previous year, he was named a global idol at the MTV Awards.

Despite the charges, he is not the first star to retain support.

Michael Jackson was abused in court in 2005, but the persuasiveness about him remains, and many still struggle with people who can reconcile with the glory of the pop singer King’s catalog.

R&B Star R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in jail for extortion and sexual trafficking in 2022. In the last count, he still has 5 million monthly listeners.

Some people in hip-hop may be willing to use a comb. Kanye West released a song called Diddy Free last week – although Kanye himself was rejected by much of the industry for publishing anti-Semitism and Nazi statements.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, host of the BBC Diddy in the Trial Podcast, has seen support outside the court and hinted that there might be a way to return.

“We’re going to see what happens in his career,” she told the BBC News.

“I feel he will be able to do so simply because of the massive support we see online and in the court fans, and the massive support of his fans and people who feel he’s unjustly targeted by the federal government.

“He won’t be the first convicted criminal to pursue a career in music, especially in hip-hop.”

For many, the details of the case will be difficult to get rid of from memory.

Angela Star, one of the content creators outside the court Wednesday, told BBC News: “His image is contaminated and now when you think of Diddy, you think of…” and then complete her point by holding up a bottle of baby oil.