Sean “Diddy” Combs spent this year’s Thanksgiving far from the extravagant celebrations he once hosted.
Instead, the 56-year-old music mogul marked the holiday inside FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he is serving a four-year sentence related to prostitution charges.
The holiday that used to mean packed dance floors and catered spreads looked very different this time around, replaced by cafeteria trays and strict schedules.
A Morning That Started With Bran Flakes, Not Bottle Service
Thanksgiving Day at Fort Dix began early, long before the sun warmed the yard.
Breakfast was served around 6:30 a.m., and Combs—like everyone else—got a modest helping of bran flakes, whole wheat bread, a banana, and a couple packets of jelly and margarine.
Skim milk rounded out the meal.
Not exactly the flashy brunches he was used to, but that’s life on the inside.
Lunch Brings the Only Hint of a Holiday Feast
The midday meal was the closest thing inmates had to a festive Thanksgiving.
Between 11 a.m. and noon, prisoners could choose between roasted turkey or soy-based chicken, served with vegetables, cornbread, and dressing.
The sides offered a familiar holiday lineup: mashed potatoes, baked sweet potato, corn, gravy, and whole wheat bread.
A piece of fruit or a simple dessert finished things off, paired with whatever beverage was available.
Dinner Returns to the Everyday Routine
By 4:30 p.m., the holiday spirit faded again as dinner was served: either a deli meat and cheese sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Chips, fruit, dessert, or plain bread with jelly were the available sides.
And once the trays were cleared, the day faded back into the predictable hum of prison routines.
Christmas Will Look Much the Same
Combs won’t be home for Christmas either.
Holiday meals in December are nearly identical, though the lunch entrée changes slightly: a baked Cornish hen replaces the soy chicken.
Everything else—the sides, the fruit, the dessert choices—stays the same.
A Sentence Extended and Rumors Swirling
Earlier in November, it emerged that Combs will be staying at Fort Dix longer than expected.
Originally scheduled to walk free on May 8, 2028, his release date has now shifted to June 4, 2028.
Officials didn’t publicly explain the extension, though reports suggested the change occurred around the same time as allegations that he had both consumed homemade alcohol and made an unauthorized three-way phone call.
Diddy’s team denied the alcohol claim immediately, insisting the story about fermented Fanta, fruit, and sugar was fiction.
Representatives Push Back on Misconduct Claims
His spokesperson stressed that he has not violated any rules and is committed to staying sober and disciplined.
In statements shared both on social media and with the press, Combs’ camp argued that rumors are inevitable during his early days in the facility and asked the public to allow him privacy and space to focus on personal improvement.
The Controversial Phone Call Incident
Despite denials, a separate issue did arise shortly after his arrival.
CBS News reported that prison records show Combs participated in a prohibited three-way phone call on November 3.
During a call with a woman, he reportedly asked her to add someone he referred to as “the digital person”—supposedly linked to blog discussions.
After a brief chat about weekend visitors, she added an unknown man to the line.
Three-way calls violate federal prison rules, which only allow conversations with people on an inmate’s pre-approved list to prevent inmates from coordinating criminal activity.
Combs claimed the additional person was part of his legal team and involved in drafting a statement for The New York Times.
Settling In, Staying Sober, and Starting Rehab
Despite the rough start, those close to him say Combs is adapting to life at Fort Dix.
He was recently accepted into the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)—a prestigious and competitive rehabilitation program that can shorten a sentence by up to a year.
His lawyers had argued that drug use played a major role in his lifestyle and legal troubles.
In a letter before sentencing, Combs admitted he had been sober for the first time in 25 years and was trying to confront both addiction and anger issues.
Judge Arun Subramanian agreed to let him join RDAP, something rarely granted so early in an inmate’s stay.
A New Routine as the Chaplain’s Assistant
Combs has also taken on one of the prison’s more desirable jobs: assisting the chaplain.
The role typically involves maintaining the religious library, organizing files, cleaning the office, and helping with various administrative tasks.
It also comes with perks—air-conditioned office time and access to food brought in for religious gatherings.
In some cases, chaplain assistants are even trusted to help compile call-out lists, which determine which inmates can attend programs or appointments.
His publicist says Diddy describes the chapel environment as warm, respectful, and meaningful.
Faith, Reflection, and Teaching Behind Bars
Although raised Catholic, Combs has long said he doesn’t subscribe to a single denomination, but he openly references God and was frequently seen reading the Bible during his trial.
He has also revived his Free Game With Diddy entrepreneurial program inside the facility, aiming to help fellow inmates build confidence, find direction, and prepare for productive lives once released—a continuation of the sessions he previously led at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
What Comes Next
For now, the rapper faces many more months inside the low-security prison.
Holiday meals will remain basic, the schedule rigid, and rumors inevitable.
His team insists he’s focused squarely on rehabilitation, reflection, and staying clean.
The spotlight may have dimmed, but he appears determined to use his time behind bars to reshape the story that will follow him when he walks out of Fort Dix in 2028.
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