Gina Huynh
Influencer and model Gina Huynh once accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of beating her up Instagram @ginavhuynh

In a startling twist, the woman who once accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of violent abuse is now asking a federal judge to release him from custody.

Gina Huynh—previously referred to as 'Victim-3' in the explosive sex trafficking case against the music mogul—has penned a letter praising his character and pleading for leniency ahead of his 3 October sentencing.

Huynh's intervention, just months after disappearing from the prosecution's witness list, has fuelled online backlash, suspicion, and concern from both legal observers and abuse survivors.

From Alleged Victim to Vocal Advocate

Gina Huynh, an influencer and recording artist, had once spoken out in harrowing detail about alleged abuse during her five-year relationship with Combs. In a 2019 interview with blogger Tasha K, she described the rapper stomping on her stomach, punching her in the head, and offering her $5,000 to terminate a pregnancy.

But in her recent letter to the court, as seen by NBC News, Huynh struck a vastly different tone:

'I have known Sean Combs for many years in both a personal and professional capacity... From that experience, I have seen him primarily as a father, a family man, and a businessman, roles that he has always striven to uphold.'

She added that by the end of their relationship, Combs had become a man who embodied 'love, patience and gentleness'—a stark contrast to her earlier accounts of violence.

She went on to state that she no longer believes Combs, 54, poses a danger to the public.

A Change of Heart?

The letter comes just months after Huynh reportedly went AWOL from the prosecution's witness list, despite being subpoenaed to testify. Her absence during the trial raised eyebrows — and her reemergence as a character witness has now ignited suspicion, speculation, and even mockery online.

'How much is he paying the infamous MIA Jane Doe?' asked one user on X. Others accused her of selling out or being under pressure. 'That is such a sad letter changing her story,' one comment read. 'If he is released, I feel sorry for anyone who testified against him.'

It's a response rooted not only in disbelief but concern — that a woman who once vividly detailed physical and emotional abuse is now helping rehabilitate the public image of the man at the centre of one of the most disturbing celebrity trials in recent history.

Huynh previously claimed in an interview with blogger Tasha K that Combs had stomped on her stomach with such force she couldn't breathe. 'He kept hitting me,' she said at the time. 'I was pleading with him, "Can you just stop? I can't breathe."' In the same interview, she alleged the rapper once offered her $5,000 to terminate a pregnancy.

And yet, in the letter to the court, Huynh describes Combs as 'cooperative, respectful and compliant' throughout the investigation and court proceedings. She argues that he should be allowed to return home to care for his children – a request now in the hands of the judge.

Who Is Gina Huynh?

Gina Huynh is known for her Instagram presence, where she shares fashion and travel content under the handle @ginavhuynh. She has been romantically linked to both Diddy and singer Chris Brown. Her relationship with Combs reportedly began in 2014, during one of his off-and-on splits from Cassie Ventura.

Though their romantic history has long since ended, Huynh and Combs still follow each other on Instagram, a detail that has not gone unnoticed by fans dissecting her show of support for the controversial rapper.

Huynh had remained mainly out of the public eye since her 2019 revelations, but is now providing one of the most perplexing twists in Diddy's legal battle. The woman who once helped expose him is now his most surprising advocate.

Internet Backlash and Theories

The letter has sparked fierce debate online. Critics on X questioned Huynh's motives, with one user writing: 'I wonder how much she was paid by Diddy himself or his family to say this.' Others expressed concern for witnesses in the case, with one commenter posting, 'If he is released, I feel sorry for anyone who testified against him.'

Some speculated that Huynh's financial situation or fear may have influenced her decision to reverse her decision. 'Poor girl needs money and is willing to get beaten occasionally to get it,' another user wrote.

Combs is currently detained in a Brooklyn federal jail. Though he was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking, he was found guilty of prostitution-related offences and is scheduled for sentencing on 3 October.

Combs' Legal Status

Sean Combs remains in federal detention in Brooklyn, where he is awaiting sentencing on 3 October after being acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking, but found guilty on prostitution-related charges.

Whether Huynh's plea will influence the judge's decision remains to be seen—but it has undoubtedly reignited public interest in what has become one of the most sensational celebrity court sagas in recent memory.