Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, makes surprise appearance at Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, briefly showed up to the New York sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Friday to support the hip-hop mogul, a long-time friend.
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Ye, dressed in white, arrived at Manhattan federal court before noon while the trial was on a break and spent about 40 minutes in the building. He did not get into the main courtroom and instead observed testimony on a closed-circuit monitor in an overflow room.
Asked if he was at the courthouse to support Combs, he responded 'yes' and nodded. He then hustled to a lift and did not appear to respond when a reporter asked if he might testify on Combs' behalf when the defence begins presenting its case as early as next week.
Ye did not answer further questions as he left the courthouse, walking past reporters and television cameras, and ducked into a waiting black Mercedes.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges alleging that he used his fame, fortune and violence to commit crimes over a 20-year period.
'Jane' (right) demonstrates a choke hold that she says Sean 'Diddy' Combs put her in during his trial in New York on Thursday. Courtroom sketch: Jane Rosenberg via Reuters
Ye's appearance at the courthouse came a day after a woman identified in court only by the pseudonym 'Jane' finished six days of testimony.
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