Sean Combs' criminal case is over. Here's what's next.

"The proceedings around Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal case have wrapped up, but his problems are far from it. In a hearing on Friday, he was sentenced to 50 months behind bars for the two prostitution-related charges for which he was found guilty in July. The image of the rapper leaving the courtroom escorted by two US Marshals marked the criminal case coming to a close, a continuation of his life behind bars, and a future of legal challenges and reputational damage."

"The mogul, who has denied all accusations of sexual assault, still faces dozens of civil cases - and judgment in the court of public opinion. At the peak of his influence, Combs seemed almost untouchable; he was worth nearly $1 billion, had an influential circle of friends, and ran lucrative businesses. Now, "his reputation has been shattered into billions of bits," Eric Schiffer, a celebrity brand and reputation strategist, told Business Insider. "It will never be the same.""

"Following the July verdict, which was seen as a partial win for the defense, sentencing was Combs' prosecutors' last chance to change the narrative of the case. Time behind bars shows "an institutional support for women's testimony about the kinds of violence that they are going through at the hands of these perpetrators," Meenakshi Gigi Durham, a professor of feminist media studies at the University of Iowa, told Business Insider."

Sean "Diddy" Combs received a 50-month prison sentence for two prostitution-related convictions from a July guilty verdict. He left the courtroom escorted by US Marshals, signaling the criminal case's close while civil litigation and public backlash continue. Combs denies sexual assault accusations but still faces dozens of civil suits and deteriorating public reputation. Once nearly a billionaire with powerful connections and profitable businesses, his brand and standing have been severely damaged. Prosecutors sought sentencing to affirm victims' testimony and accountability. The judge rejected a time-served request, reflecting recognition of the impact of the offenses.

Read at Business Insider