
Ex-gigolo furious about being identified in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' trial: ‘Damaged my reputation'
Vin Armani was identified by Ventura as one of those paid to take part in disturbing sex sessions, with his photo among those showed during Combs' high-profile trial.
But the former Vegas escort — who starred in the Showtime reality TV show 'Gigolos' — insists it is a case of mistaken identity, while ripping prosecutors for not contacting him for his side of the story.
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4 Armani starred in a Showtime reality TV show called Gigolos, that followed the lives of five male escorts in Las Vegas from 2011-2016.
Showtime
'This has sucked for me that my name has been brought into this,' he told the Daily Mail.
'I have never had an interaction with Diddy and/or Cassie that included — or where I witnessed — violence, illegal drugs, contracting for sexual services/acts (prostitution), or the transportation of any person from anywhere to anywhere whatsoever,' he insisted.
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Armani admits he 'hung out with literally hundreds of celebrities on a regular basis,' but never in one of the now-notorious 'freak offs' central to the case against Combs.
'Had any attorney or authority ever contacted me, this fact would have been plain for them to see,' he said.
4 Diddy's ex Cassie Ventura has broken down in tears as she recounted painful details in court.
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Armani — who wrote a 2011 book about his profession, 'Tao of the Gigolo' — said he was angry having started a new life in tech and crypto after moving to Saipan, a small island in the Pacific.
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He is furious that a since-deleted TMZ story identified him as 'Jules,' the sex worker involved in an infamous 2016 night at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, where Diddy was caught on video viciously beating, kicking and dragging Ventura.
'This TMZ bulls–t and the lack of professionalism or competence from the prosecution has damaged my reputation,' he complained.
4 Armani has tried to move on from the gigolo life.
Facebook / Vin Armani
Combs, 55, is accused of using his fame, fortune and many businesses to run a racketeering scheme in which he controlled Ventura over the course of their 10-year on-again off-again relationship, using violence and threats, forcing her and others into unprotected sex and drug-fueled 'freak-off' sex marathons.
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He faces life in prison if convicted. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial resumes on May 27.
4 Ventura said the sex scenes she was allegedly forced to participate in were 'humiliating.'
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The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York didn't respond to a request for comment on Armani's claims.

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