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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Diddy trial shows society doesn't care about women's suffering
He's a man known by many names: Diddy; Puff Daddy; Puffy; Sean Combs; and now a convicted criminal. His music was ubiquitous with the 2000s, collaborating with some of the biggest names in pop, from Christina Aguilera to Justin Bieber. His Bad Boy Record label brought artists such as Janelle Monáe and Machine Gun Kelly to the world. But now, after two months on trial his fame should pale in significance to the crimes he committed. Over a period of eight weeks, a jury at Manhattan's Federal Court in New York City heard the case against Sean Combs. He was tried on two counts of transportation for prostitution in relation to Cassie Ventura and another woman known as 'Jane', as well as two charges of sex trafficking with regards to Ventura and 'Jane', and one charge of racketeering conspiracy. On June 6, he was found guilty on both counts of transportation for prostitution, and not guilty on the other three charges. Combs denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to all charges. This case has garnered significant attention, not least from the media and fans alike. A fan outside the court wore a T-shirt that read 'A Freako is not a R.I.C.O'. The so-called 'Freak-offs' are drug-fuelled, days-long sex parties, where hundreds of bottles of baby oil seized from Diddy's Los Angeles home became an emblem for the excess and distress. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act has been used in the past to tackle criminal organisations, most notably in 1985 when Rudy Giuliani charged the heads of the so-called 'Five Families' of the New York Mafia. But where do we go from the news that one of the most recognisable men in music is dangerous? In May 2024 leaked surveillance footage from 2016, showed the world how Diddy brutally assaulted his then girlfriend Cassie Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in L.A . In a response on Instagram, Diddy described his 'behaviour as inexcusable.' The footage is difficult to watch: what I see is a woman in a moment of desperate hope trying to flee her abuser. But I'm not convinced that everybody sees this pain in the way I do. The video is right there for all to see, but yet the era of disinformation has equipped some with the ability to think: 'Well, maybe we're not getting the whole story here'. Ignorance is the best case scenario for those who waited outside the Diddy court holding bottles of baby oil, rooting for his imminent release. But at worst, I think that fundamentally these people don't care about how women are treated. Heavily pregnant and weeping on the stand, Ventura told the court about her relationship with Diddy. She told the court about being plied with drugs and coerced into having sex with male prostitutes - which was sometimes recorded by Diddy. This was not the first public declaration by Cassie about Diddy's abuse. In 2023, the singer went public with allegations of rape and abuse that she suffered from Diddy. The media mogul settled this case out of court for $20million. Reading her testimony from the 2025 trial, the resilience to carry on in the hope of justice is inspiring. In a move that is both insensitive to survivors and out of touch with the testimony that came before, Diddy's defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo in closing arguments on June 27, described their relationship as a "great modern love story". He said: "It's complicated, but they are truly in love with each other, and that is what defines their relationship. It is based on love." Love should not result in bruises, split lips, and non-consensual sex. Love should not hurt. This is not a modern love story; this is a nightmare that plays out for far too many women. The National Centre for Domestic Violence defines domestic abuse as ranging from physical and sexual abuse to threatening or coercive behaviour. They report that 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime. When the verdict was read out in court, Diddy buckled with relief. His legal team put in a request for bail pending sentencing, which was denied. He remains behind bars until the proposed sentencing date of October 3. The New York Times reported that when this decision was handed down by Judge Arun Subramanian his jubilance turned to a 'darkened demeanour'. Outside the court Ventura's lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor praised the singer for her bravery, saying: "She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors." But orbits are not eternal, and will eventually decay away, dropping stars out of alignment. Survivors will be the change-makers, as they continue to come forward and advocate for future women's safety. It is what we must do to ensure that powerful men cannot commit crimes unhindered.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sean Diddy Combs' secret plan against his ex Jennifer Lopez emerges amid sex-trafficking trial
Controversial US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has been found not guilty of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. He has been found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution after a nearly two-month long federal trial in New York City. The verdict comes after jurors on Tuesday told the court that they had reached a decision on the sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges against Combs, but they were unable to reach a verdict on the racketeering count. According to media reports, Sean Diddy Combs ' ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez was threatened by him in the face of the legal scandal he is facing. Lopez and Diddy, who once dated and then parted ways later on, were one of the most known couples in the Hollywood. Jennifer Lopez reportedly went through a tough time and experienced a period of great anxiety due to alleged threats from Sean "Diddy" Combs. According to RadarOnline, Combs "burnt with rage" at Lopez's silence in the face of the legal scandal he is facing and according to an anonymous source quoted by RadarOnline: "He's furious at how she's turned her back on him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tamil Nadu Mosquito Crisis Solved by Strange New Device (See How) Mosquito Eliminator Read More Undo ALSO READ: Can Sean Diddy Combs escape prison in sex trial? Trump's unexpected move might flip US rapper's case Sean Diddy and Jennifer Lopez love story Jennifer Lopez's relationship with Sean 'Diddy' Combs in the late '90s turned heads instantly. They dated from 1999 to 2001, a time Lopez once described as emotionally turbulent. 'It was the first time I was with someone who wasn't faithful,' she told Vibe in 2003. Live Events When the 'Bad Boy Record' was in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on sex trafficking, racketeering and prostitution charges, he was obsessed with the lack of support from with whom he had a relationship years back. The report suggests that Combs was confident that the artist, with whom he maintained a close relationship even after the breakup, would publicly support him. However, preferred not to get involved in the issue and to step aside. The speculation gained traction after photographs of Sean Diddy and Jennifer Lopez resurfaced in which the two appeared to be in an argument at New York's Lotus nightclub on September 7, 2000, as on that same night, Combs was later accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl while a female celebrity looked on. ALSO READ: Trump gives deportation threat to Elon Musk. But US President's latest target might have an exit plan Did Diddy threaten Lopez? Accusations in which Jay-Z was also allegedly involved as an accomplice. However, there is no evidence that Jennifer Lopez was involved or witnessed this alleged crime, and the civil lawsuit filed in February was withdrawn by the plaintiff and even Jay-Z reportedly filed a countersuit for defamation. According to the report, Combs started to drop hints that he has compromising information about the singer and would not hesitate to make it public if he does not receive some kind of backing. "He's saying that if she knows what's good for her, she should at least reach out to him or, better yet, testify that he's a nice person incapable of committing those crimes," an insider was quoted as saying. "If she doesn't do something, she'll be on his revenge list... whether he's in prison or not." Jennifer Lopez maintained her distance from Sean Diddy stayed away from the case.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Diddy's lawyer drops DNA twist during Kid Cudi's testimony; music mogul silent on $20,000 payment demand from Cassie's mother
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, accused of sex trafficking, racketeering, and other serious sexual assault charges, is now heading into the third week of his trial in New York's federal court. In the first two weeks, jurors heard from the rapper's ex-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura, a federal prosecutor, rapper Kid Cudi, and some of Diddy's former staff, including sex workers he allegedly hired for 'freak-off' parties. So far, the court has recorded testimonies covering Combs' 20 years in the music industry, including allegations of abusing women, and using his influence to commit illegal activities. However, Diddy's legal team, led by Marc Agnifilo, maintains that their client is not guilty. The case has brought up claims of Diddy holding onto 'kompromat' (compromising videos he used to control people) and demanding $20,000 from Cassie's mother. Kid Cudi was also cross-examined on Diddy's alleged involvement in the bombing of his Porsche in 2012. Also read: Kid Cudi testifies: 5 big reveals from Diddy's trial day 9; Marvel villain jab, blown-up Porsche, dating Cassie and more After Cassie detailed her brief romance with Kid Cudi, the rapper was subpoenaed in the case, where he confirmed his dating timeline, which clashed with singer's relationship with Combs. Cudi insisted that at the time, he knew Cassie had broken up with Diddy due to problems in their relationship. However, shortly after, he revealed that the Bad Boy Record producer showed up at his home with his men and tried messing with his dogs in his absence. Days later, the rapper said his luxury Porsche was set on fire. Though he didn't know who was behind it, he recalled a heated confrontation with Diddy, which led him to believe that Diddy was responsible for this. The police investigated, but Cudi said he never received any updates. During cross-examination, Diddy's lawyer surprised Cudi by saying the police found female DNA on the Porsche, but Cudi claimed that he never heard about any DNA evidence. In another big moment, Cassie's mother, Regina Ventura, was ordered to take the stand to detail her daughter's relationship with the disgraced music mogul. According to her, Diddy was furious when he found out about Cassie's affair with rapper Kid Cudi and demanded $20,000 from her as payment for the money he had spent on Cassie's music career through his record label, Bad Boy Records. Ventura said she had to take out a loan for her daughter's safety. However, a few days later, Diddy returned the money with no explanation. Interestingly, Diddy's lawyers didn't ask Regina any questions during cross-examination, which was unusual since the defence grilled other witnesses for hours. Also read: Diddy's trial: Drake to Michael B Jordan, Prince, Kanye West and more, all celebrities mentioned in the case and why Apart from that, Diddy's former assistant, David James, detailed one incident where, after a party, Diddy was watching video recordings from the event and said he wanted to keep these videos safely in case he needed to use them later. The singer has been accused by federal prosecutors of possessing multiple compromising videos. Earlier, Cassie said Diddy threatened to release private videos of her, which could ruin her career. The same claim was repeated by Rodney 'Lil Rod' Jones, who was Diddy's videographer and lived with him for years.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Mother Sued For Allegedly Seizing Bad Boy Label From Co-Founder, Leaving Him Homeless
Sean "Diddy" Combs' mother, Janice Smalls, has been sued by a former right-hand man of the embattled rapper, Kirk Burrowes. Burrowes claims Diddy seized control of his stake in Bad Boy Record label, leaving him homeless. Sean "Diddy" Combs has been in jail after being arrested in September following charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy's mom, Janice Smalls, has been dragged into a new lawsuit involving her son and his former right-hand man, Burrowes. According to the Daily Mail, Burrowes filed a lawsuit in which he alleged that the "Finna Get Loose" rapper used a baseball bat to force him into signing over his shares of the company and then gave his mom. The alleged altercation happened in 1996 when Diddy entered his office with Bad Boy Entertainment attorney Kenneth Meiselas. Burrowes claims he was then forced to give up his 25 percent stake in the company. The ousted music executive who served as the company's Chief operating officer and general manager says he's homeless and has had to endure "prolonged periods of living in shelters across New York City" due to the "immense" financial hardship as a result. He's now suing Smalls, the label's majority stakeholder and who he alleges "engaged in a decades-long scheme of intimidation, violence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and financial concealment." "By words and actions, Sean Combs and Kenneth Meiselas frightened and intimidated and assaulted plaintiff (Burrowes) and forced him to turn over his share certificate for 25 shares of Bad Boy Entertainment to Sean Combs," court documents read. "Plaintiff, fearing for his life, with tears streaming down his face, clearly unable to resist under the circumstances, involuntarily signed the documents," Burrowes claimed. Elsewhere in the lawsuit, Burrowes claims that Smalls wasn't in the office the day of the alleged assault, which seemed quite odd to him. He noted that he later contacted her "seeking guidance," but she "pretended she was unaware" of what Diddy and Meiselas had allegedly done. Although she wasn't physically present, he claims that Diddy and Meiselas "were acting under [her] direction to orchestrate the fraudulent involuntary transfer." The lawsuit claims that the "Defendants not only defrauded [Burrowes] of his rightful stake in BBE but also systematically sabotaged his career." "They blacklisted him from the music industry, blocked business opportunities, and destroyed his professional reputation, ensuring he would remain financially destitute and unable to reclaim what was rightfully his," the document read. According to the news outlet, Burrowes claims he has been owed millions of dollars in lost profit as he invested $100,000 when Bad Boy Entertainment first launched. He's seeking damages for financial losses, reinstatement of his 25 percent ownership stake, his 15 percent annual share including interest, and a forensic audit of Bad Boy Entertainment's earnings and profits from its inception to the present. Burrowes' claims come amid Diddy's mounting lawsuits as he awaits trial for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The "Bad Boy For Life" rapper is currently held at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and has been denied bail several times. In his lawsuit, Burrowes pointed out that he shares a close tie with Diddy as he's the godfather of the rapper's first child, Justin Combs, and that he attended his christening at a church in Harlem, "underscoring the deep bond and reliance between the families." He claimed that when Diddy was fired in 1992 by Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell, he helped him rise above the depressive state during which the rapper was allegedly plagued by suicidal thoughts. Diddy has previously attributed the success of the company to Burrowes, telling Billboard in 1997, "Kirk is the one responsible for Bad Boy's success and making it the professional, young, black-run company that it has become." Also in court documents, Burrowes claimed he warmed up to Smalls at some point and became her trusted confidant, adding that she opened up to him and sought his protection when Diddy allegedly abused her. Burrowes says he allegedly witnessed Diddy's "volatile and abusive behavior," including an incident where he physically assaulted Smalls. Burrowes added that he watched Diddy "aggressively overpowering" his mom and calling her "derogatory slurs." "She then, in my eyes, was a mother doing her best, and she wanted to calm him down," he said of Smalls. "I was caught off guard by the mother title and the sweet mother persona that she gave, and the strength of her trying to help a son who's in a very difficult situation." "And at that time, I was 1,000% into helping Sean and making sure that he'd get over this. Today, I have a different view of it," he added.
