Disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs reportedly had some choice words for courtroom sketch artist Jane Rosenberg during his recent high-profile sex trafficking trial.
The 55-year-old was depicted in court sketches showing visible panic as the jury delivered its verdict on four of five charges. While he was acquitted of the most serious counts — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — he was found guilty of two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
The illustrations, some by veteran artist Rosenberg, captured rare moments of emotion during the lengthy proceedings. But Combs was reportedly unhappy with how he was portrayed. During a court break, he mouthed something to Rosenberg, asking her to make him look “softer,” pointing to his mouth.
“He said, ‘You made me look like a koala bear,’” Rosenberg told PEOPLE, adding that she took it in stride. Later that day, she shared the comment with Combs’ family in an elevator, who laughed and thanked her for her fairness.
Rosenberg admitted Combs wasn’t an easy subject to draw. “He’s got an unusual look,” she said. “He doesn’t look anything like he used to.”
With over 45 years of experience, Rosenberg has drawn many public figures in court and said celebrities often have opinions about how they’re portrayed. “Giuliani said I made him look like a dog, Weinstein asked for more hair, Gotti wanted a slimmer chin,” she said. “Trump once looked at my sketch and said, ‘I need to lose some weight.’”
Rosenberg recently released a memoir titled Drawn Testimony: My Four Decades as a Courtroom Sketch Artist.
