Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs speaks to family on his birthday from federal detention center

Combs thanked his family for their love and support.

“I can’t wait to see y’all,” he said. “And I just want to say I’m proud of y’all … just for being strong. Thank you for your strongness. Thank you for being by my side.”

Combs has faced serious criminal allegations and a wave of sexual abuse lawsuits since his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, sued him last year. In the suit, she alleged that Combs raped and beat her in fits of “uncontrollable rage” and exerted a “tight hold over her life.”

Cassie also alleged that Combs forced her to engage in sex acts he called “freak offs” with other men, often sex workers whom he’d pay to travel with them, while he watched.

Combs denied all of her allegations, and the two settled the lawsuit a day after it was filed.

Hotel security video of Combs appearing to assault Cassie released this year appeared to corroborate at least one of the allegations of abuse in her suit.

Combs apologized on Instagram, described his behavior in the video as “inexcusable” and said he had sought therapy. His video apology was later removed from his Instagram page.

The federal indictment alleged the “freak offs” Ventura described in her lawsuit were “elaborate and produced sex performances” that Combs “arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.”

It also alleged that Combs and his business associates lured women into his world, “often under the pretense of a romantic relationship,” and used force, threats and coercion, including drugs to keep them “obedient and compliant” to compel their participation in freak offs.

Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said when Combs was arrested that federal prosecutors did not have evidence of sexual trafficking.

“These were consenting adults,” Agnifilo said.