Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan: All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial
Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan: All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial
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Cassie Ventura's mother testifies at Diddy trial
Regina Ventura, the mother of Sean Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura Fine, told the court she was "physically sick" over the rapper's alleged abuse.
Much of Sean "Diddy" Combs' showbiz glory includes lavish White Parties in the Hamptons and star turns on the Met Gala red carpet. But in November 2023, the gilded walls of Combs' music kingdom came crashing down.
That month, Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine filed a lawsuit against him that opened the floodgates for various abuse allegations and kicked off a two-year legal saga for the former mogul.
Then, in September, he was arrested by federal authorities at a Manhattan hotel. He has pleaded not guilty to his five charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Eight months later, Ventura Fine is now the star witness in Combs' federal sex-crimes trial. Combs — who once claimed to be a billionaire — now spends his days in a Brooklyn prison, not his bi-coastal mansions. Gone is the glitz and glamour.
With Combs' trial underway, here is a look at all the Hollywood A-listers who have been name-dropped so far.
Diddy trial replay: What did Kid Cudi say about alleged break in, car explosion?
Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassie is star witness
During her trial testimony, Ventura Fine brought forward new details about the abuse she allegedly faced in her decadelong relationship with Combs.
The "Me & U" singer testified for four days the week of May 12 and laid bare the raw details of their complicated dynamic, including her alleged participation in drug-fueled sexual performances labeled "freak offs," physical and emotional abuse she said she faced early on in their relationship, and violence she reportedly witnessed while in Combs' orbit.
Cassie Ventura takes the stand: Biggest moments from her Diddy trial testimony
Her testimony also included an in-depth look at Combs' infamous assault of her at the now-closed InterContinental luxury hotel in Los Angeles, an alleged 2018 rape and her fear of leaving the Bad Boy Records founder due to potential retribution.
Cassie shared makeup artist with Rihanna
Ventura Fine's friend and former makeup artist, Mylah Morales, took the stand in Combs' trial on May 22 to reflect on Cassie's turbulent relationship with Combs. Morales previously worked for pop star Rihanna for 13 years and during that time had other celebrity clients such as Cassie, Jennifer Lopez and even Diddy himself.
During cross-examination, Morales was shown photographs from magazines and video shoots where she had done Ventura Fine's makeup, including stills of Cassie and Wiz Khalifa in the "Black and Yellow" music video, as well as a photo of Cassie, Rihanna and Ryan Leslie attending an awards show. Morales said Ventura Fine's look was "important to her.'
Kid Cudi testifies in Diddy trial after mogul allegedly blew up car
Kid Cudi took the stand in Combs' trial on May 22 to discuss his one-time fling with their shared ex-girlfriend Ventura Fine. Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, was previously mentioned in Cassie's November 2023 lawsuit against Combs.
Ventura Fine previously testified that Combs allegedly blew up Cudi's car during her short-lived relationship with the "Pursuit of Happiness" hitmaker after Combs found out about the pairing. The "Me & U" singer's testimony mirrored details from her 2023 suit, which first featured the bombshell accusation.
Ventura Fine said Combs' violence towards her extended to others, including Cudi, whom she briefly dated in 2011 during a break in her relationship with Combs after they had musically collaborated.
Cudi echoed Cassie's allegation about his damaged vehicle during court testimony and leveled additional claims that Combs broke into his home and locked his dog in a bathroom. The rapper also confirmed that Ventura Fine had told him about Combs' alleged physical abuse, "that he would hit her, sometimes kick her."
After finding out about the Cudi relationship during a "freak off" sex session, Cassie testified that Combs attacked her. Later, she told the court that she and Cudi split because she wanted to protect the rapper.
Kid Cudi speaks out: What rapper revealed Cassie told him about Diddy
Danity Kane member Dawn Richard testifies
After Ventura Fine's testimony ended May 16, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard took to the stand.
Richard, discovered by Combs, was a prominent collaborator of the music mogul for a decade, including stints in the Bad Boy Records girl group and later the short-lived trio Diddy – Dirty Money.
Her September lawsuit claimed Combs subjected her to physical and sexual abuse throughout their professional relationship. Combs' lawyers at the time said Richard was trying to "rewrite history."
Richard testified that she witnessed Combs attack Ventura Fine, discussed a suspected assault of Combs' longtime girlfriend Kimberly "Kim" Porter and claimed Combs threatened her and fellow Dirty Money member Kalenna Harper with statements like, "You want to die today," and "I end people."
Dawn Richard appears at Diddy trial: Danity Kane singer describes violent assault on Cassie
Is Usher testifying at Diddy trial?
So far, neither prosecutors nor the defense have announced plans to call on R&B singer-songwriter Usher as a witness in Combs' trial.
However, Usher's name was brought up during Dawn Richard's cross-examination on May 19. Richard told the court about a dinner around 2009 where she allegedly saw Combs punch Ventura Fine. She said Usher was one of the music stars in attendance.
Usher and Combs have previously linked up in the studio. The two have collaborated on the songs "I Don't Know," "Better on the Other Side" and "Looking for Love."
What is music executive Jimmy Iovine's connection to Diddy?
Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, has not appeared at Combs' trial, but the music executive has been referenced in court testimony.
During Diddy — Dirty Money alum Dawn Richard's cross-examination on May 19, Richard said Iovine was present at a dinner party around 2009, during which Combs allegedly punched Ventura Fine.
Interscope Records co-distributed Diddy — Dirty Money's 2010 album "Last Train to Paris" alongside Bad Boy Records.
Britney Spears, Dallas Austin attended Cassie's birthday party
In court, Ventura Fine detailed the A-list attendees at her 21st birthday party, which included pop princess Britney Spears and hit producer Dallas Austin.
Ventura Fine told the court that the "Toxic" hitmaker wasn't there because of her: "That was all him. I didn't know them." The real reason why Austin's name was on the questionnaire given to potential jurors is unknown, but he previously dated Combs' ex Porter, who died of pneumonia in 2018.
Cassie once linked to 'Sinners' star Michael B. Jordan
During her May 15 testimony, Ventura Fine touched on a connection to actor Michael B. Jordan as Combs' attorneys scrutinized her relationships with other men.
Ventura Fine said Combs suspected that she was in a relationship with the Emmy-nominated actor after the pair broke up in 2015, per Fox News. At the time of their split, the singer-actress was filming a movie in South Africa. (Cassie starred in the musical drama "Honey 3: Dare to Dance," which was set in South Africa and reportedly concluded filming in December 2015.)
When asked about Combs' reaction to an alleged relationship with Jordan, Ventura Fine said she "wasn't there to see it," according to NBC News, but added that Combs attempted to get in contact with her.
Diddy trial: Cassie testifies about Michael B. Jordan relationship
Did Cassie Ventura cheat on Diddy with Chris Brown?
An alleged incident between Ventura Fine and R&B singer-songwriter Chris Brown was referenced during Combs' trial on May 16 after the rapper's lawyer Anna Estevao asked Cassie about two instances where Combs suspected she was cheating on him.
"He found out you were dancing with another person in the entertainment industry? Do you remember the incident where he suspected you of dancing with Chris Brown?" Estevao asked of an alleged 2013 incident. Ventura Fine said she did not remember the instance, but she "was not dancing" with the singer.
Brown and Combs have collaborated on numerous occasions, including the Diddy — Dirty Money tracks "Yesterday" and "I Know."
Jurors asked about Mike Myers, Lauren London, Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child
Potential jurors in the Combs trial were asked about Ventura Fine's longtime close friend and actress Lauren London, who has been vocal about Combs' support of her in the wake of the 2019 shooting death of her late partner, rapper Nipsey Hussle.
Ventura Fine and London frequently comment on one another's Instagram posts. London commented "Love you guys" with blue heart emojis on Ventura Fine's February pregnancy announcement.
Potential jurors were also asked about Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams and "Austin Powers" star Mike Myers.
Diddy security guard 'D-Roc' was in car when childhood friend Biggie died
A name that has been repeatedly mentioned in court is Combs' security guard "D-Roc," whose real name is Damion Butler. Butler was once aligned with another famous rap figure: Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, who was his childhood friend.
Before his 1997 drive-by shooting death, Wallace was signed to Combs' Bad Boy Records. D-Roc was also in the car when Biggie was shot dead, according to a 2022 book "It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him."
The 2021 Netflix documentary "Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell" features never-before-seen footage filmed by Butler.
Before her February death, Biggie's mom Voletta Wallace told Rolling Stone she wanted to "slap" Combs in May 2024 after footage of Combs' hotel assault of Ventura Fine surfaced.
Biggie's longtime friend D-Roc on why he 'trusted' Netflix doc's filmmaker with unseen footage
Why was former President Barack Obama mentioned in Diddy trial?
While on the stand May 20, former Combs staffer David James testified that he once retrieved ecstasy from the embattled mogul's medicine bag for one of his friends.
James said the rapper had several different types of ecstasy pills, including "one in the shape of a former president's face," later clarifying that the pill was shaped like former President Barack Obama.
Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, Aysha Bagchi, Patrick Ryan, Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
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The defense has challenged Ventura's credibility by pointing to her lawsuit windfall, to the many times she left the Combs relationship only to freely return, and to the years of texts and emails in which she expresses her love of Combs and the freak offs. But Ventura described being trapped in a cycle of drug addiction, financial and emotional dependency, and fear. And yes, also love. "I would do absolutely anything for him," she told the jury, explaining why she agreed to the first freak off at age 22. "And it never stopped, our whole relationship." "Jane," his second sex-trafficking accuser "Jane," a recent ex-girlfriend of Combs, testified that on their first date at a Miami hotel in 2010, she fell "pretty head-over-heels for Sean." The date lasted five days, she told the jury. Over the next four months, she said, Combs slowly introduced her to his sexual preferences. He loved baby oil and drugs that kept them up day and night. He loved it when she dressed in lingerie and "high stripper heels." He'd play pornography and tell her to fantasize about the men on screen. "Do you like what you see there?" she said he'd ask her of these men. "Do you want that?" Then one night in 2021 at his Miami mansion, as the pornography rolled, he told her, "I can make this fantasy a reality if you'd like that." She loved him, she explained, and agreeing made him so happy. So she said yes. Jane said she soon realized she'd opened up "Pandora's box." Gone were the romantic trips and dinner dates of their first four months. Combs wanted freak offs — by now he was calling them "hotel nights" — nearly every time they saw each other over the next three years, up until his arrest in 2024. "It was just a door I was unable to shut," she told the jury. Jane's testimony has so far described some of the elements of sex trafficking. She said she reluctantly crossed state lines, traveling from the East Coast to Miami to Los Angeles, to engage with paid sex workers. But her testimony, which continues next week, has yet to show that Combs sex trafficked her using force, fraud, or coercion, as the indictment requires. She instead described intensive psychological and financial pressure. She said she agreed to hotel nights because she loved him, and because he'd moved her to Los Angeles from the East Coast and was paying rent and other costs for her and her child. And when she told him she no longer wanted to do hotel nights, he would brush her off, or make what may or may not rise to the level of a coercive threat to withdraw that financial support. "If you want to break up, that's fine," she testified he'd tell her. "Do you need, like, what, three more months in the house? Because I'm not about to be paying for a woman's rent that I'm not even seeing." Prosecutors have said Combs defrauded Jane by promising romantic dinners and trips, only to renege and persuade her into another hotel night. They have also said Combs was brutally violent with Jane, though it's unclear how they plan to draw a link between that violence and sex trafficking by force. Meanwhile, the defense will likely use hundreds of affectionate and erotic texts between Jane and Combs to argue that she is a bitter ex who willingly suffered any demands and violence, and who continues to have her expenses paid by Combs in return. Asked late Friday who is currently paying her rent, Jane answered, "Sean is." Prosecutors have also hinted that Jane is a witness to obstruction of justice, one of the underlying crimes they can use to prove the racketeering charge. "You will hear him try to manipulate Jane into saying she wanted freak offs," Emily Johnson, an assistant US attorney, told the jury during May 12 opening statements, describing a phone call recorded after Ventura's lawsuit was filed. "You will hear him interrupt Jane when she pushes back," Johnson said. Prosecutors have also said he made a point of paying for Jane's housing — even after his arrest. "Mia," his rape accuser "Mia," a former Combs employee, told the jury about a night 15 years ago, when she slept in the employee bedroom at his Los Angeles mansion. She woke up with Combs on top of her, she said, telling her, "Be quiet." "It was very quick, but it felt like forever," she said, her voice breaking into quiet, gasping sobs. Mia, like Jane, testified under a pseudonym to protect her privacy. She told the jury that Combs raped or sexually assaulted her at least four times throughout her eight years working as his personal assistant and as an executive for his short-lived movie company, Revolt Films. As with Jane and Cassie, Mia described in dozens of texts and social media posts struggling with her financial dependence on Combs and her fear of his violent nature, even as she spoke warmly of him. Mia supported the Ventura sex-trafficking claim. She said she saw Combs throw Ventura to the ground and "crack her head open." But Mia was not herself sex-trafficked, according to prosecutors — she is instead a racketeering witness. Mia's testimony may be used to support an underlying racketeering crime of forced labor. She told the jury that Combs made her work as many as five days in a row with little or no sleep. Combs was a volatile boss who stole her phone and passport during arguments that turned violent, she said. Her testimony may also support an underlying crime of bribery and obstruction of justice. Mia told the jury that Combs' bodyguard, Damion "D-Roc" Butler, called and texted her repeatedly in the weeks after Ventura's lawsuit, spinning the "Puff and Cass" relationship as normal, and offering her "a gift." Capricorn Clark, his kidnapping accuser In her testimony, Capricorn Clark, Combs' former personal assistant and marketing exec, supported the Ventura sex-trafficking charge, describing Ventura as docile, trapped, and frequently subjected to beatings. During one beating, Clark said, Combs stopped briefly to warn her, "If I jumped in he was going to fuck me up, too." Clark is primarily a racketeering witness. Her testimony supports the underlying crimes of kidnapping and extortion. Clark said Combs was so enraged by Ventura's brief 2011 romance with rival rapper Kid Cudi that he forced Clark at gunpoint to ride with him and a bodyguard to Cudi's nearby house in Hollywood Hills. "He just said get dressed, we're going to go kill this —" and here he used the N-word. Cudi — whose given name is Scott Mescudi — told the jury that he arrived home to find his dog locked in the bathroom and a table full of Christmas presents unwrapped and rifled through. Clark also corroborated trial testimony by Ventura and her mom, Regina Ventura, concerning what prosecutors call a $20,000 extortion threat. The mom said she wired Combs the money after he threatened to release explicit sex tapes of her daughter. Dawn Richard, death-threat witness Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified to a brutal 2009 beating at Combs' rented Los Angeles mansion that supports both the Ventura sex-trafficking-by-force allegation and racketeering. Combs punched, kicked, and dragged Ventura during a fight over her not cooking him breakfast quickly enough, both Ventura and Richard told the jury. The next day, Combs called Ventura and Richard into his studio and locked the door. Inside, he tried to explain the incident, gave them some flowers, and what Richard said she considered to be a death threat. "He said that what we saw was passion," Richard testified. He told them, "he was trying to take us to the top, and that, where he comes from, people go missing," if they talk to the police, she said. "And then he gave us flowers." Prosecutors may call what happened next inside the studio extortion, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice, all underlying racketeering crimes. Kerry Morgan In her testimony, Kerry Morgan supported the Ventura sex-trafficking charge, describing two times she saw Combs beat Ventura, whom she called her best friend from their teenage modeling years. Once was when Ventura took too long in the bathroom during a 2013 Jamaica vacation. Morgan said Combs dragged a screaming Ventura outside by the hair and flung her down onto some paving bricks. For about 30 seconds, "I thought she was knocked out," Morgan testified. Morgan also supported the racketeering count by describing a $30,000 hush-money payment she received from Combs. In return for the money, Morgan said, she signed a non-disclosure agreement that barred her from talking about a 2018 assault she said happened earlier that year in Ventura's Hollywood Hills house. Combs was desperate to learn "who Cassie was cheating on him with," she testified. Combs let himself into Ventura's apartment, she said. "He came up behind me, and choked me when I got away, he boomeranged a wooden hanger at my head," giving her a concussion, Morgan said. Bryana "Bana" Bongolan, who says Combs dangled her over a balcony Bryana "Bana" Bongolan, a marketing director, told jurors she and Ventura are longtime friends. They shared a lot of drugs over the years, she said — including cocaine, ketamine, and GHB. They also shared trauma, she told the jury. She once saw Combs throw a knife at Ventura, who she said threw it back. "I'm the devil and I could kill you," she testified Combs told her in 2016, seemingly at random, when she and Ventura were with him on a Malibu beach. Combs, she said, gave no explanation for the threat. Bongolan's most important testimony — feeding the prosecution's argument that Combs stood at the head of a violent, criminal "racket" — described him picking her up and holding her over the railing of a 17th-story balcony in September 2016. "You know what the fuck you did!" she said Combs kept shouting as he hoisted her into the air. Asked if she knew what he meant, she testified, "I still have no idea." On cross-examination, defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland highlighted inconsistencies between what Bongolan has said in a $10 million lawsuit, in her interviews with prosecutors, and in her testimony. The defense lawyer also leaned into the defense contention that Combs' accusers have financial reasons to falsely implicate him. Westmoreland questioned Bongolan hard about her and Ventura's lawsuits against Combs. In one example, Bongolan's ongoing lawsuit accuses Combs of violent sexual assault, an allegation not made in her June 4 testimony — though Bongolan did tell jurors that Combs' hands cupped her breasts before he hoisted her up from under her arms. "It means a lot for you to become a ten-millionaire soon, doesn't it?" Westmoreland asked Bongolan, who answered, "I care about justice." Read the original article on Business Insider
