With family and friends nearby, Combs was sitting there Friday unshackled in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse. The notoriously self-promoting rapper was denied bail twice before in quick succession by other judges just after his arrest on sex trafficking and other charges two months ago.

October 22 Two of Combs’ seven children—Quincy Brown, Combs' adopted 33-year-old son, and Chance Combs, his 18-year-old daughter with Sarah Chapman—made a joint post on Instagram calling the last month "devastating" for their family and defending their father from what they called "accusations, conspiracy theories and false narratives.”

The hip-hop star returned to a Manhattan federal court Friday to request his release from custody while he awaits trial scheduled for May.