Kid Cudi discusses his testimony in the Sean Combs trial: ‘I hated every minute of it'
'I felt I was calm. I was there because I had to be,' Cudi told host Alex Cooper in a conversation for the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast.
'I hated every minute of it,' Cudi added. 'I did not want to do it, but then I thought about, when I was up there, I'm here to support Cassie (Ventura.)'
Cudi testified in the Combs trial in May that his home was broken into and his car set on fire in 2011, around the time he had been in a relationship with Ventura.
'I've always just wanted to see her thrive and do well and be happy. I know she was living a nightmare,' Cudi said of Ventura. 'I just was there to support her. That's what, kind of, gave me peace with it. When I sat down in that chair, it was just about, 'Damn, I don't want to do this' to being like 'Oh man, I got to hold homegirl down and look out for her.''
Last month, a jury convicted Combs of two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, though, he will likely receive a significantly shorter sentence, according to legal analysts.
A sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 3.
Cudi's new book, 'Cudi: The Memoir,' debuted this week. He also has an upcoming album, 'Free,' set to release on August 22.
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Kid Cudi takes the stand in Diddy trial: What he revealed, from car explosion to his dog Mescudi on meeting now-wife Lola Abecassis Sartore Mescudi details the ins and outs of various tumultuous relationships, but none seem to bring him the sense of ease and peace that his wife Lola Abecassis Sartore does. He recalls first seeing her at Abloh's Louis Vuitton fashion show in 2017, where he walked right up to the menswear designer and asked for her number, without even knowing her name. Their relationship started out as a friendship until he began to seriously court her in 2022. He proposed in Kyoto, Japan, that year with a custom 11-carat diamond platinum ring. The couple married earlier this year. Abecassis Sartore came at a time when he was "not needing a relationship as a crutch, but more as a bonus in my life. "The only piece that I was missing was a companion. She was not only the perfect companion, but she was peace in my life that I just hadn't felt with a woman before," he writes. "I love every little quirk about her. She inspires me; she lifts me; she supports me in every single endeavor I have … She's a master in her craft, so it's like I found my equal in creativity too." Kid Cudi ties the knot with Lola Abecassis Sartore during wedding in South of France Kid Cudi on his influence: 'My music will always help people' Known for his gloomy, cross-genre hits, Mescudi's pioneering legacy as one of the most vulnerable artists in hip-hop has been solidified. One of his biggest tracks, "Pursuit of Happiness," was initially meant as a warning against finding satisfaction in drugs and alcohol, but he later embraced the joy it brought people. He approached later projects like "Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven" and "Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'" with the same desire to be a guide to younger fans. "Kids needed to hear someone authentically and openly dealing with their most toxic baggage," he writes. Reflecting on his impact after nearly two decades in music, Mescudi says his music "opened the door for generations of nonconforming artists .... I was touching people, and my music will always help people to the end of time." Reflecting on his 40th birthday, a "milestone that felt so very far out of reach," Mescudi considers his impact. "It wasn't the fame that brought me to my nirvana; it was all the wonderful, sincere people who my music led into my life," he said. "And all my time searching for life in outer space, I never thought I'd find peace and love on Earth." If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889). If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
