Sean "Diddy" Combs Speaks Out in Court With 4-Word Message
Originally appeared on E! Online
Sean "Diddy" Combs is speaking out amid his criminal trial.
The rap mogul—who has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution—verbally addressed those inside the New York City courtroom where he was being tried on May 20.
"I love you all," Combs said aloud as court adjourned for the day, before adding under his breath, per People: "Yeah. Love."
He went on speak to a woman in the gallery, telling her in what appeared to be a reference to his 31-year-old son Justin Combs, "Please let Justin know I'm thinking of him."
But this was not Combs' first public declaration of love in his trial. As seen in courtroom sketches from his May 13 appearance, the 55-year-old made a heart gesture with his hands as he was led to his seat at the defense table.
While Combs has yet to take the stand, several notable figures from his past have already testified in the proceeding—including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
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In her testimony, Ventura said she participated in hundreds of sex parties known as "freak offs" with hired escorts at the instruction of Combs. The "Me & You" singer said she would have to perform even when she was suffering from painful urinary tract infections (UTIs), alleging that Combs threatened to release footage of her from the sexual encounters should she stop participating in them.
"I would get sores on my tongue from the freak offs from taking drugs," Ventura, 38, recounted in her testimony, according to NBC News, "from oral sex, also from having my mouth on things where there was oil and Astroglide and lubricants."
Ventura ultimately left Combs in 2018 after more than a decade of dating.
"It was always in the back of my mind that I would somehow be hurt by him," Ventura testified. "Sean is a really polarizing person. He was very charming, it was hard to decide in that moment when he was telling you what he wanted. I just didn't know what would happen."
For more details about Combs' court trial, keep reading.
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Always Carried Pills to 'Increase Sperm Count,' Former Assistant TestifiesHotel Room Was Stocked with Baby Oil, Pink Ketamine and $9,000 Cash When Sean 'Diddy' Combs Was ArrestedFormer Cassie Ventura Friend Says She Was Attacked by Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Accepted $30,000 to Remain SilentDawn Richard Testifies She Saw Sean "Diddy" Combs Try to Hit Cassie Ventura With a SkilletCassie Ventura Shoots Down Accusation of Drugs in the 'Freak Off' Baby OilCassie Ventura Details Sean 'Diddy' Combs Drug UseJudge Calls For Recess Amid Cassie Ventura's Testimony at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' TrialCassie Ventura Says That She Participated in 'Hundreds' of 'Freak Offs' with Sean 'Diddy' CombsCassie Ventura Says She Settled 2023 Lawsuit Against Sean 'Diddy' Combs for $20 MillionCassie Ventura Alleges Sean 'Diddy' Combs Raped Her in 2018 When She Was Already With Future Husband Alex FineCassie Ventura Says She Broke Up With Kid Cudi After Sean 'Diddy' Combs ThreatCassie Ventura Says 'Freak Offs' Gave Her UTIs, Other Physical AilmentsSean "Diddy" Combs Allegedly Told Cassie Ventura That She "Couldn't" Leave Him During Hotel AttackCassie Ventura Says Sean "Diddy" Combs Attacked Her in Hotel Hallway Because She Left a "Freak Off"Cassie Ventura Says She Took Drugs to Make It Through 'Freak Offs'Cassie Ventura Describes Mess of Oil, Urine and Blood After "Freak Offs"Sean 'Diddy' Combs Wanted Baby Oil 'Glistening' During 'Freak Offs,' Says Cassie VenturaCassie Ventura Said Hiring For 'Freak Offs' Became 'a Job' For HerCassie Ventura Alleges 'Violent Arguments' With Sean 'Diddy' Combs Led to 'Physical Abuse and Dragging'Defense Wanted Pregnant Cassie Ventura Seated Before Jury to Avoid "Sympathy"Male Escort Says He Could Hear Sean "Diddy" Combs Assaulting CassieEscort Says Cassie Ventura Paid for Sex While Sean "Diddy" Combs Watched and MasturbatedCassie Ventura Had 'Purple Eye' After Being Attacked by Sean "Diddy" Combs, According to WitnessFormer Hotel Security Guard Says Sean "Diddy" Combs Offered Him Cash to Stay Quiet About Cassie Attack
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