Diddy trial live: Kid Cudi begins testimony at Diddy trial - after rapper's ex-assistant recalls Cassie Vegas plane incident

Sky News

22-05-2025

The sex-trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs continues in New York, with musician Kid Cudi, who was in a relationship with the rapper's ex-girlfriend Cassie, giving evidence. Follow live from court.
16:03:33
Rapper Kid Cudi begins giving evidence
Scott Mescudi, known professionally as Kid Cudi, now takes to the stand.
He is wearing a leather jacket, white shirt and light-coloured jeans.
16:03:12
Diddy's ex-assistant finishes cross-examination
Diddy's lead lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, asks Diddy's former assistant George Kaplan, who is currently being cross-examined, if Diddy ever yelled at him. Kaplan says he did.
Kaplan confirms that Diddy threatened his job but never threatened him physically. He also confirms he never heard Diddy threaten to hurt Cassie in his presence.
15:43:01
'Sean Combs loves apple sauce'
Diddy's lead lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, continues his cross-examination of Diddy's former assistant of several years, George Kaplan.
When asked, Kaplan says Diddy did not pay for things himself, and that purchases were largely made via the company credit card, which he describes as a "Black Amex".
He is asked if Diddy was making "multiple thousand-dollar purchases" and confirms he was. Kaplan is asked if the company statements were scrutinised to decide which purchases were business and which ones weren't, and Kaplan says no.
A previous assistant, David James, who gave evidence earlier this week mentioned regularly purchasing apple sauce for Diddy.
Agnifilo asks Kaplan now if Diddy was "keeping track of apple sauce purchases" - he says no.
Agnifilo goes on: "What was with the apple sauce?"
Kaplan says: "Sean Combs loves apple sauce... He would always have it on or on the side of things".
Agnifilo asks if Diddy would "track" purchase of apple sauce or baby oil.
Kaplan says no, adding "it was always there when he wanted or needed it".
15:30:06
Diddy's lifestyle 'like drinking from a fire hose'
Cross-examination of George Kaplan, Sean "Diddy" Combs's ex-assistant, begins after the prosecution finishes their questions.
Kaplan worked for Diddy for several years up to December 2015 and was subpoenaed to appear at court and has an immunity order, meaning his testimony will not be used against him.
Marc Antony Agnifilo, Diddy's lead lawyer, begins by asking Kaplan to expand on the "incredible time" he had while working for Diddy.
Kaplan says he was young at the time, just realising how big the world was, and says Diddy "made my world so much bigger".
He describes Diddy's knowledge of business and his way of living as being like "drinking from a fire hose".
He says he has been a fan of Diddy since his childhood, adding: "I use [his] work ethic every day, without those lessons I wouldn't have the jobs I have now."
Kaplan describes Diddy as pushing him to his "deepest depths," adding that working for Diddy was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
We learn that the birthday of the late rapper Notorious BIG - which was yesterday - is marked at Combs Enterprises with a holiday for all staff.
15:12:28
Diddy hurled 'decorative apples' hard at girlfriend, court hears
George Kaplan, Diddy's former assistant, also describes an incident with the rapper's girlfriend Gina.
He says he was at Diddy's Miami home late one night and saw him "throwing decorative apples" at Gina in the entryway of the mansion.
He describes Diddy as being "very angry," hurling three apples "hard" at Gina.
He says Gina was trying to shield herself with her arms and move away from him.
He says he later witnessed "tension" between Diddy and Gina when he delivered a medicine bag to him and then heard "commotion" from Gina and Diddy during the night near the front gate, with "a lot of commotion" and "screaming back and forth".
Kaplan said he could hear security was there as he heard "other male voices" but says he did nothing because "I really wanted to have a successful career" and that "standing in the way of [the argument going on] was not going to make me success".
Kaplan says he handed in his notice in to Diddy a month later, speaking to Diddy's former chief of staff, Kristina Khorrum, and describing the row he'd seen between Diddy and Gina.
He added that when he told Diddy his father was ill, and he was leaving, Diddy was "extremely gracious".
Kaplan says he had to "compartmentalise" his experience of working for Diddy, adding: "In some ways it was the most incredible thing that ever happened in my life". He says: "I liked Mr Combs, and I wanted to have a relationship with him."
15:04:08
Kid Cudi arrives at court
As Diddy's former assistant continues his testimony in court, we've just seen this image of musician Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, arriving before he gives evidence later.
14:52:02
'I stopped working for Diddy as physical behaviour made me uncomfortable'
Kaplan describes an instance later in 2015 when he was called to Diddy's bedroom in his LA home, and saw Cassie on the bed, visibly upset and with "bruising near her right eyebrow and with head in her hands".
He says Diddy asked him to pick up items from a pharmacy, including anti-swelling solutions, adding "I remember witch hazel" - an astringent, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Kaplan says he stopped working for Diddy in December 2015 because he "was not comfortable with the physical behaviour going on".
He describes the decision as being "extremely challenging" because he was "grateful" for his role and "had respect for Mr Combs", but says, "in my heart of hearts I knew it was the right thing to do".
He says at this time his father was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, which he describes as "the last straw".
14:43:43
Witness: Cassie yelled 'isn't anybody else seeing this?' as Diddy smashed glasses on plane
Moving on to Diddy's romantic relationships, Kaplan says he was aware of Kim Porter, the mother of four of Diddy's children, and Cassie and Gina, whom he describes as Diddy's "girlfriends".
He says he "regularly" witnessed physical violence between Cassie and Diddy.
He goes on to discuss specific incidents of violence he says he witnessed. The first took place on a private plane to Las Vegas in the second half of 2015.
Kaplan says he was sitting near the front of the plane when he heard glass breaking. He says he looked back and saw Diddy "standing over Cassie" while she lay on the floor on her back with her legs held up, as if "trying to create space [between her and Diddy]".
He describes Diddy holding up a "whiskey rocks glass" and there being "a tremendous commotion and scuffle", with Cassie yelling: "Isn't anybody seeing this?"
He says Diddy was angry, and he heard more glass breaking and chaos all around. He says the security team present "didn't do anything."
Kaplan says that after the last glass shattered, Diddy came to the front of the plane and sat in one of the captain's chairs, telling Cassie to stay at the back. Describing Diddy's mood, he says "he was pretty even-keeled".
14:29:04
'I was asked to hold $50,000 cash for Diddy'
Kaplan is being questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey.
He says he was "infrequently" asked to carry cash for Diddy, recalling one time in 2015 when he says he was asked "to hold" $50,000 cash by security.
He also says he was asked to pick up $10,000 from Western Union that had been wired from Combs Enterprises, which he says he gave to Diddy, around two or three times.
Kaplan clarifies that he is in court after being subpoenaed, and says he has an immunity order, meaning his testimony will not be used against him.
He adds, "it does not protect me if I lie today".