Public glimpses of Diddy have been rare since his imprisonment, limited mostly to courtroom sketches, making the release of his intake photo a surprise for many. Social media buzzed with reactions as people noted the drastic change in his appearance from his days as a lavish rap entrepreneur. His once meticulously styled hair had grown out, revealing a significant amount of gray, particularly around the sides and top. His facial hair, now mostly gray, further accentuated the transformation. The mugshot, with its poor quality, added shadows around his eyes, enhancing the starkness of his demeanor.

Not much had been seen of Diddy during his incarceration besides courtroom sketches, so when his intake photo for Fort Dix was shared online, it came as something of a shock to social media users. Even though the snap was of poor quality, people could see how different Diddy looked living behind bars versus in the mansion where he enjoyed his former lavish rap mogul lifestyle. His hair had grown out and was predominantly gray with large silver streaks on the sides and top of his head. The music producer had also grown out his facial hair, which was mostly gray as well. Diddy was stone-faced for the intake pic, and the shading of the image made him appear to have dark circles around his eyes.

While Diddy’s birthday in prison may have lacked the extravagance he once enjoyed, reports suggest he is not entirely devoid of special privileges at Fort Dix. Celebrity gossip writer Rob Shuter shared insights from sources within the prison, who claimed that Diddy has managed to access several luxuries, including a cellphone. “He acts like it’s a luxury rehab, not a federal facility,” one insider remarked to Shuter. This perceived preferential treatment seems to have bolstered Diddy’s confidence, with another source noting his unchanged sense of authority even behind bars. “It’s the same arrogance — just with concrete walls,” they added.

Sean “Diddy” Combs may have had an unlavish birthday in prison, but he has reportedly enjoyed some special treatment while serving his time at Fort Dix. Just days before his intake photo went viral, insight into Diddy’s time at the federal prison was shared by celebrity gossip writer Rub Shuter on his Substack. According to multiple sources from inside the prison, the disgraced hip hop producer has been given multiple luxuries in lockup and has even managed to gain access to a cellphone. “He acts like it’s a luxury rehab, not a federal facility,” one source told Shuter for a piece published on November 8. The preferential treatment has reportedly emboldened Diddy as an inmate. “He hasn’t changed. Diddy still thinks he’s in charge, even behind bars. It’s the same arrogance — just with concrete walls,” another insider said.

That ego had been on display during Diddy’s trial when he was apparently unhappy with how he was portrayed in sketches. Sketch artist Jane Rosenberg told Reuters in June that Diddy made a request about how she drew him. “Soften me up a bit, you’re making me look like a koala bear,” he told the sketch artist. Those sketches showed Diddy with large patches of gray hair on the sides and top of his head. Plus, there was evidence of his beard going gray. When the prison mugshot was released, it became clear that Rosenberg had done a solid job of accurately depicting Diddy.