Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio name-dropped during Diddy's federal trial in explosive testimony
Explosive testimony in Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial featured a few A-list names during the fourth week.
Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio and Beyoncé are a few of the celebrities who came up as the prosecution witnesses continued to take the stand and testify against the rapper in his sex trafficking and racketeering case.
Diddy's trial began May 12 with opening statements. Throughout the fourth week of testimony, the jury heard from the disgraced music mogul's ex-assistant "Mia," former Bad Boy Entertainment CFO Derek Ferguson, Cassie's friend Bryana Bongolan and Diddy's ex-girlfriend "Jane."
Here's a look at the celebrities mentioned in court this week.
After Diddy's assistant, who testified under the pseudonym Mia, was let go in March 2017, she was hired by pop star Madonna.
The rapper's defense team had questioned Mia aboutwhether she'd worked in the "same industry" as before after being fired.
When asked what the ex-assistant did for Madonna, Mia replied, "A myriad of things."
"I was hired to help lead her film division," Diddy's former employee claimed on the stand. "She also needed help restructuring her internal executive team, then it morphed into multiple roles."
Diddy's ex-assistant Mia mentioned both Leonardo DiCaprio and Mick Jagger in a text to her former boss that was read in court Monday.
During her cross-examination, the disgraced music mogul's defense zeroed in on text messages Mia sent after she experienced alleged physical and sexual abuse by Combs. The former ex-assistant admitted the text messages she sent to Diddy after being terminated from her job were all positive.
"Love you, too. And the only things to remember are the good times, and those are the only memories I have!! Ha ha ha, like f------ hysterical ones! I'll send you everything I've got! I remember even before you had videographers with us, I carried around the little iVid thing. I found those, too. Completely forgot about them.
"So many magical hilarious things, like drinking 1942 on the Parrot Cay Beach and champagne under the Eiffel Tower at 4:00 a.m. in the dark; and singing with Jimmy at Interscope; and Mick Jagger trying to take me home, but I ran away; and Ibiza caves, where I got a seven-inch scar; and Hawaii 5.0, when you punched that d--- f--- for talking s--- to me; and launching Revolt; and that random underground Baccarat game where Jlolo wouldn't pay out and I stayed only, and you won 650 grand, and that little prick ran away from me, and Leo [DiCaprio] grabbed my pink bedazzled BlackBerry, and you said that Titanic mother f----- doesn't know s---. He won 10K, I won 650K. Ha ha ha. Gosh, there are trillions of stories that are amazing."
Rihanna and Beyoncé were mentioned during Bryana Bongolan's testimony Wednesday. Cassie Ventura's friend claimed the two had been working on a clothing line with Diamond Supply Company.
According to Bongolan, the two got out a few collections during a two-year period. However, the clothing lines didn't work out due to "internal" reasons at Diamond Supply Company.
Cassie's friend agreed with Diddy's defense lawyer that the clothing lines didn't work out because the two were competing with Rihanna and Beyoncé.
Film producer Judd Apatow was mentioned during testimony in Diddy's trial while the defense was showing text messages from the rapper's ex-assistant. The defense noted Mia sent the texts after the "Last Night" rapper had been violent with her for years. Mia left her job working for Diddy in 2017.
On March 8, 2019, five months after the death of Diddy's longtime partner, Kim Porter, Mia reached out.
"Just sending you all the love in the world," she wrote, adding a heart emoji.
"Speaking of, you should watch Love on Netflix. Judd Apatow created it," she added in a separate text that same day. "It's superbad-esque funny."
In another text message Diddy's ex-assistant sent to the rapper after he allegedly abused her, Mia mentioned actor Chadwick Boseman.
"Thinking of you since I heard about Chad Boseman and our sick James Brown auditions," she wrote to Combs in 2020, years after she stopped working for him.
The "Black Panther" star died from colon cancer at the age of 43.
"Chad Boseman passed away, and we had done this – I don't know how to explain it," Mia further explained during her testimony. "He was auditioning for this role for the James Brown movie that Chad Boseman got, and, essentially, he put on his own production that was – or we put on his own production for, like, a week, and it was really intense. Yeah, that's it."
Diddy then asked Mia if she had a copy of the James Brown audition tape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Dark cloud' hangs over cruise industry as complaints of crimes rise in recent years — how to stay safe at sea
Complaints of crimes and missing person reports on cruises that dock at U.S. ports have surged in recent years, fueling what one security expert calls a 'dark cloud' over an industry eager to protect its reputation. Department of Transportation figures show 48 alleged incidents between Jan. 1 and March 30 of this year: 23 reports of rape, 10 of other forms of sexual assault, seven of physical assault and seven of theft greater than $10,000. One missing U.S. national was also reported. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) There were also 47 alleged incidents in each of the first and third quarters of 2024, 50 in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 55 in the second quarter of 2023. 'All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry,' Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service agent and lecturer on criminal justice at the University of New Haven, told Fox News in a story published May 15. Cruise lines 'want [passengers] to be comfortable spending their money.' A spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association told Fox News that 'crime is extremely rare on cruise ships' thanks to strict security vetting and training that "make cruise[s] one of the safest holiday options.' A mixture of large groups of people, alcohol and the sense of freedom that comes with being on vacation can create an environment that's more prone to illicit activity, says McDonald. 'Anytime we get together, those numbers are going to go up, whether that's at a resort, whether it's on a cruise ship,' he said. Among recent reports: On March 21, two men in their 30s were arrested, accused of raping a 14-year-old boy in a sauna aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, reports the Miami Herald. Both men were charged with sexual battery of a minor, exposing themselves to a minor and molestation of a child aged 12 to 16. One man faced an additional charge of not informing another person in a sexual act of his HIV status. 'We take these allegations very seriously and immediately notified local law enforcement,' a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told the Herald. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it A month later, dozens of Carnival Cruise Line passengers were banned after video of a brawl at a Galveston, Texas, terminal emerged on social media showing people kicking and punching one another as they disembarked, according to Fox News. Carnival told the news outlet the matter was referred to law enforcement, and stressed that the company 'will not tolerate such behavior.' While reports of alleged crime on the high seas may be elevated, some experts insist cruises remain a safe way to travel. If you choose to cruise, you can be proactive and make sure you understand the laws that can help keep you safe. Jurisdiction on cruise ships is a constantly moving target that can change after a vessel moves away from shore. Within 12 nautical miles of the coast, the coastal nation's criminal code typically applies; beyond 12 miles, the ship falls under the law of the country whose flag it flies. Maritime laws may also apply. Before you sail, make sure you understand which laws and regulations will apply during your trip. Statistics for reports of alleged crimes of major cruise operators appear in quarterly Department of Transportation reports, and the CDC publishes sanitation scores for each ship. This can help you decide which cruise line and which ship you're comfortable sailing on. Cruise ships have internal emergency systems, including dedicated phone lines. Report suspicious behaviour immediately. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
No Supreme Court win, but Mexico pressures U.S. on southbound guns
More than a decade ago, Mexican authorities erected a billboard along the border in Ciudad Juárez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso. "No More Weapons," was the stark message, written in English and crafted from 3 tons of firearms that had been seized and crushed. It was a desperate entreaty to U.S. officials to stanch the so-called Iron River, the southbound flow of arms that was fueling record levels of carnage in Mexico. But the guns kept coming — and the bloodletting and mayhem grew. Finally, with homicides soaring to record levels, exasperated authorities pivoted to a novel strategy: Mexico filed a $10-billion suit in U.S. federal court seeking to have Smith & Wesson and other signature manufacturers held accountable for the country's epidemic of shooting deaths. The uphill battle against the powerful gun lobby survived an appeals court challenge, but last week the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Mexico's lawsuit, ruling unanimously that federal law shields gunmakers from nearly all liability. Read more: So what really happened at the cartel training site dubbed 'Mexican Auschwitz'? Although the litigation stalled, advocates say the high-profile gambit did notch a significant achievement: Dramatizing the role of Made-in-U.S.A. arms in Mexico's daily drumbeat of assassinations, massacres and disappearances. "Notwithstanding the Supreme Court ruling, Mexico's lawsuit has accomplished a great deal," said Jonathan Lowy, president of Global Action on Gun Violence, a Washington-based advocacy group. "It has put the issue of gun trafficking — and the industry's role in facilitating the gun pipeline — on the bilateral and international agenda," said Lowy, who was co-counsel in Mexico's lawsuit. Read more: Supreme Court throws out Mexico's suit against U.S. gun makers in a unanimous decision A few hours after the high court decision, Ronald Johnson, the U.S. ambassador in Mexico City, wrote on X that the White House was intent on working with Mexico "to stop southbound arms trafficking and dismantle networks fueling cartel violence." The comments mark the first time that Washington — which has strong-armed Mexico to cut down on the northbound traffic of fentanyl and other illicit drugs — has acknowledged a reciprocal responsibility to clamp down on southbound guns, said President Claudia Sheinbaum. She hailed it as a breakthrough, years in the making. "This is not just about the passage of narcotics from Mexico to the United States," Sheinbaum said Friday. "But that there [must] also be no passage of arms from the United States to Mexico." Mexico is mulling options after the Supreme Court rebuff, Sheinbaum said. Still pending is a separate lawsuit by Mexico in U.S. federal court accusing five gun dealers in Arizona of trafficking weapons and ammunition to the cartels. Read more: Indigenous activist's disappearance and killing cause outcry in Mexico's Oaxaca state Meanwhile, U.S. officials say that the Trump administration's recent designation of six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations means that weapons traffickers may face terrorism-related charges. "In essence, the cartels that operate within Mexico and threaten the state are armed from weapons that are bought in the United States and shipped there," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional panel last month. "We want to help stop that flow." On Monday, federal agents gathered at an international bridge in Laredo, Texas, before an array of seized arms — from snub-nosed revolvers to mounted machine guns — to demonstrate what they insist is a newfound resolve to stop the illicit gun commerce. "This isn't a weapon just going to Mexico," Craig Larrabee, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio, told reporters. "It's going to arm the cartels. It's going to fight police officers and create terror throughout Mexico." Read more: Trump wants to attack drug cartels. How can Mexico respond if he does? In documents submitted to the Supreme Court, Mexican authorities charged that it defied credibility that U.S. gunmakers were unaware that their products were destined for Mexican cartels — a charge denied by manufacturers. The gun industry also disputed Mexico's argument that manufacturers deliberately produce military-style assault rifles and other weapons that, for both practical and aesthetic reasons, appeal to mobsters. Mexico cited several .38-caliber Colt offerings, including a gold-plated, Jefe de Jefes ("Boss of Bosses") pistol; and a handgun dubbed the "Emiliano Zapata," emblazoned with an image of the revered Mexican revolutionary hero and his celebrated motto: "It is better to die standing than to live on your knees." Compared with the United States, Mexico has a much more stringent approach to firearms. Like the 2nd Amendment, Mexico's Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms. But it also stipulates that federal law 'will determine the cases, conditions, requirements and places' of gun ownership. There are just two stores nationwide, both run by the military, where people can legally purchase guns. At the bigger store, in Mexico City, fewer than 50 guns are sold on average each day. Buyers are required to provide names, addresses and fingerprints in a process that can drag on for months. And unlike the United States, Mexico maintains a national registry. But the vast availability of U.S.-origin, black-market weapons undermines Mexico's strict guidelines. According to Mexican officials, an estimated 200,000 to half a million guns are smuggled annually into Mexico. Data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives illustrate where criminals in Mexico are obtaining their firepower. Of the 132,823 guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico from 2009 to 2018, fully 70% were found to have originated in the U.S. — mostly in Texas and other Southwest border states. In their lawsuit, Mexican authorities cited even higher numbers: Almost 90% of guns seized at crime scenes came from north of the border. Experts say most firearms in Mexico are bought legally at U.S. gun shows or retail outlets by so-called straw purchasers,who smuggle the weapons across the border. It's a surprisingly easy task: More than a million people and about $1.8 billion in goods cross the border legally each day, and Mexico rarely inspects vehicles heading south. In recent years, the flood of weapons from the United States has accelerated, fueling record levels of violence. Mexican organized crime groups have expanded their turf and moved into rackets beyond drug trafficking, including extortion, fuel-smuggling and the exploitation of timber, minerals and other natural resources. In 2004, guns accounted for one-quarter of Mexico's homicides. Today, guns are used in roughly three-quarters of killings. Mexican leaders have long been sounding alarms. Former President Felipe Calderón, who, with U.S. backing, launched what is now widely viewed as a catastrophic "war" on Mexican drug traffickers in late 2006, personally pleaded with U.S. lawmakers to reinstate a congressional prohibition on purchases of high-powered assault rifles. The expiration of the ban in 2004 meant that any adult with a clean record could enter a store in most states and walk out with weapons that, in much of the world, are legally reserved for military use. 'Many of these guns are not going to honest American hands,' Calderon said in a 2010 address to the U.S. Congress. 'Instead, thousands are ending up in the hands of criminals.' It was Calderón who, near the end of his term, ventured to the northern border to unveil the massive billboard urging U.S. authorities to stop the weapons flow. His appeals, and those of subsequent Mexican leaders, went largely unheeded. The verdict is still out on whether Washington will follow up on its latest vows to throttle the gun traffic. "The Trump administration has said very clearly that it wants to go after Mexican organized crime groups," said David Shirk, a political scientist at San Diego University who studies violence in Mexico. "And, if you're going to get serious about Mexican cartels, you have to take away their guns." Special correspondent Cecilia Sánchez Vidal contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The National Guard comes to Los Angeles: What's going to happen? Is it legal?
The Trump administration says it will send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after two days of isolated clashes between federal immigration agents and protesters. Officials say the Guard will assist in operations related to Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Many questions remain unanswered, but here is what we know: Officials said the troops were arriving in L.A. as soon as Saturday night, though it was unclear when the full 2,000 personnel would be in place. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on X that the Guard was being deployed "immediately to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert." Tom Homan, the Trump administration's 'border czar,' said on Fox News that officials were trying to "address violence and destruction occurring near raid locations where demonstrators are gathering. ... American people, this is about enforcing the law, and again, we're not going to apologize for doing it." It is possible they will provide backup during future immigration raids and prove protection of some federal facilities, including a detention center in downtown L.A. has was the scene of protests and some vandalism; California Gov. Gavin Newsom sid local law enforcement was already mobilized and that sending in troops was a move that was 'purposefully inflammatory' and would 'only escalate tensions.' '[T]here is currently no unmet need,' Newsom said. Trump said in a memo to the Defense and Homeland Security departments that he was calling the National Guard into federal service under a provision called Title 10 to 'temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions.' Title 10 provides for activating National Guard troops for federal service. Such Title 10 orders can be used for deploying National Guard members in the United States or abroad. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, said in a text to The Times that Trump has the authority under the Insurrection Act of 1807 to federalize the National Guard units of states to suppress 'any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy' that 'so hinders the execution of the laws.' Yes, the National Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles numerous times amid civil unrest and natural disaster. Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School, noted that when the National Guard was sent to L.A. before, it was because California requested it and the response was coordinated. In 2020, widespread criminal acts in the wake of the George Floyd murder prompted Mayor Eric Garcetti to seek National Guard troops from Newsom. Garcetti asked for 1,000 troops. Guardsmen toting M-4 rifles could be seen patrolling streets between Skid Row and Bunker Hill. In combat gear, they stood guard outside shattered storefronts and graffiti-tagged buildings, where windows had been shattered and the street strewn with trash. Humvees and military trucks were present in the city. In 1994, after a 6.7 earthquake left more than 1,000 buildings destroyed and 20,000 residents homeless, the Guard was brought in. Convoys rumbled through the San Fernando Valley, patrolling mini-malls and parks to deliver water, deter looters, direct traffic and raise tent cities for 6,000 displaced residents. In 1992, thousands of National Guard and U.S. military troops patrolled L.A. amid the riot following the Rodney King trial. Mayor Tom Bradley requested the help when the LAPD could not quell the unrest. In 1965, 13,000 troops were sent to L.A. amid the Watts riots. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
