Latest news with #CassieVentura
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs: An Updated Timeline Of Charges, Allegations & Consequences The Rap Mogul Faces
Since November 2023, Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been sued by – and settled with – his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, been hit with at least four other lawsuits alleging sexual assault, stepped down as chairman of Revolt Media, had his homes in L.A. and Miami raided by Homeland Security, seen his son charged with sexual assault and been indicted on a trio of federal charges including racketeering and sex trafficking. While nothing has been proven yet in court, it's been a rapid fall and a dizzying stream of bad news for one of hip-hop's first billionaires. More from Deadline Fired Diddy & Jeffrey Epstein Prosecutor Maurene Comey Slams Trump: "Fear Is The Tool Of A Tyrant" - Update Sean "Diddy" Combs Denied Bail, Will Be Sentenced In October; Lawyer Declares "Great Victory" After Mixed Verdict - Update Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds Scroll through the photos below for a timeline of it all. Best of Deadline The Movies That Have Made More Than $1 Billion At The Global Box Office 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5 So Far
ABC News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs's' criminal conviction may not end his career
In the hours after the jury handed down its verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs's federal court case, a video began to circulate online. It shows a group gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse. Some throw their hands up, others dance, and one squirts a bottle of baby oil on another. They appear to be celebrating Combs — who at the end of 2024 was indicted on US federal charges following a slew of civil lawsuits — being found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, greatly reducing his potential jail time. On July 4, after weeks of trial testimony, including an emotional statement from a heavily pregnant Cassie Ventura — who settled a civil suit against her former partner Combs last year — a jury delivered its finding. The 55-year-old was guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, his least serious charges. Combs was found not guilty on two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and on one count of racketeering conspiracy. He will be sentenced in October. For the fans that gathered outside of the courthouse, it was as good as a victory. Some yelled "free Diddy" as others rushed to supply the abundant news cameras with sound bites claiming all the charges against Combs should have been struck off. The response from fans shows a path forward for the celebrity despite him being convicted of a serious crime. There's something unique about being more than just a casual fan of an artist, according to Bertha Chin, an expert in fandom subculture and a senior lecturer in media and cultural studies at Singapore National University. A strong sense of what feels like a reciprocal connection with a celebrity — otherwise known as a parasocial relationship — can lead to fans being not only engaged with an artist's work, but also "involved in the politics", she told ABC Entertainment. In recent years, parasocial relationships have become increasingly prevalent — in part because celebrities are nurturing them. "We're saturated with choices, so it's all the more important for artists and celebrities to develop a relationship with their fans. It's a mutually beneficial relationship," Dr Chin said. "Artists are promoting their latest projects or themselves, whereas fans inherently see themselves being represented by the artists, or want to achieve something towards emulating said artists." And in that relationship, there can be a blurry line between a fan defending an artist and willingly ignoring an artist's bad, or illegal, behaviour altogether. "There's been a lot of discussions … on whether fans should separate the creator from the art, that continuing to support the media does not necessarily mean that they are also supporting the actions of its creators," Dr Chin said. "It's a complex emotion, and I'd say some fans are more successful at separating the creator from the creative works than others." Fans sticking by their favourite artists even after they have been convicted of a violent crime is not unheard of. A day before Combs's verdict was handed down, thousands of music fans were lining up outside Glasgow's 50,000-plus capacity Hampden Park stadium to see Chris Brown live in concert. After a string of mid-2000s hit songs, Brown was charged with attacking his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. He pleaded guilty to felony assault over the incident, accepting a plea deal that gained him five years of probation, community service and domestic violence training. Brown has faced numerous legal issues in the years since his 2009 conviction, including an assault charge this past May. He also caused controversy in June when he posed with his hands around the neck of a female fan during a meet-and-greet. When local news outlet STV questioned the anticipatory fans waiting outside Hampden Park, some said they had no knowledge of the incident at all, some said he had changed, and one woman said she loves a "bad boy". "Both Sean Combs and Chris Brown exert a very particular kind of hyper-masculine trait that attracts a very specific type of fan," Dr Chin said. "Certain artists will attract a specific kind of following based on their image or branding … It's not really about the parasocial relationships as such, but more what fans see and understand an artist represents." Following his trial, Combs was denied bail, which means he will stay behind bars at least until his sentencing in October. After his sentence is handed down, Combs will have the option to appeal against his conviction or the sentence. Outside of the federal case, Combs is still facing 66 civil lawsuits that accuse him of sexual assault, false imprisonment, battery and more. Speaking to the Associated Press, Evan Nierman, CEO and president of crisis public relations firm Red Banyan, said he saw a path for Combs to emerge relatively unscathed, despite all of the accusations. "This is a very positive outcome overall for him. And it does give him an opportunity to try to rebuild his life," Mr Nierman said. "It won't be the same, but at least he's likely going to be out there in the world and able to move forward." While each of Combs's convicted charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, the prosecution has pointed to sentencing guidelines that appear to recommend a prison term of a little more than five years. Combs's lawyers say the sentence should be a maximum of two years, with time served on account of music star being behind bars for more than a year. "It's a powerful thing for the hip hop mogul to go public …that the feds tried to come after him and they failed," Mr Nierman said. "I could definitely see him leaning into that." ABC/AP
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
From hip-hop icon to inmate: Sean ‘Diddy' Combs to be sentenced October 3 after prostitution conviction
NEW YORK, July 10 — A federal judge on Tuesday said Sean 'Diddy' Combs will be sentenced on October 3 after the music mogul was convicted on charges of transporting prostitutes to engage in drug-fuelled sexual performances. US District Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw Combs' trial in Manhattan, approved the date following a request from Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo. Prosecutors and probation officers agreed to the date. Combs, 55, remains in the Brooklyn jail where he has been held since his arrest last September, even though jurors cleared him of the most serious charges he faced. Jurors acquitted Combs on July 2 on sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life. They convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The mixed verdict was viewed widely as a disappointment for prosecutors, while Combs and his supporters expressed jubilation. Prosecutors accused Combs of coercing two former girlfriends, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane, into unwanted sex with male sex workers, aided by his employees. A third woman who testified under the pseudonym Mia told jurors Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times during her employment with him. Combs pleaded not guilty to all five counts he faced. His lawyers will file their sentencing recommendation by September 19, with prosecutors likely to follow a week later. Prosecutors have said Combs could face 51 months to 63 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, while the defence has said the same guidelines suggested a two-year sentence. Subramanian is not required to follow the guidelines, and either side may propose different terms. The defence will have until July 30 to ask the judge to set aside Combs' conviction. Combs founded Bad Boy Records, and is known for having elevated hip-hop in American culture as he turned artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars. He still faces dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. Combs has denied all wrongdoing. — Reuters
Sky News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentencing hearing confirmed
The date for Sean "Diddy" Combs's sentencing hearing has been confirmed. Following his high-profile trial, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution by jurors in Manhattan, New York, last week - but was cleared of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Defence lawyers argued Combs, who has been in prison in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year, should be bailed ahead of sentencing given the not guilty verdicts for the more serious charges, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied this - citing, among other things, the rapper's own admissions of previous violent behaviour. The charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a potential life sentence. Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related offences, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment. After the verdict was delivered, the judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for 3 October. At a remote follow-up conference on Tuesday, with agreement from the defence and prosecution, the judge approved the date. Combs joined the call but did not make any comment. Any sentence will include credit for time already served - which will be just over a year by the time the hearing takes place. During his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, including his former long-term partner, singer and model Cassie Ventura. Jurors found the allegations did not amount to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or running a criminal enterprise - but they did find him guilty of transporting Cassie and another former girlfriend "Jane" for prostitution offences around the US, and paying male escorts to engage in sexual encounters. Despite the guilty verdict on those charges, the 55-year-old's team described it as "the victory of all victories". In an interview over the weekend, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Combs had received a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after being acquitted of the more serious charges. "They all said, 'We never get to see anyone who beats the government'," he said. Ahead of sentencing, Combs's lawyers will file their recommendations by 19 September, with prosecutors likely to follow a week later. Prosecutors previously said the rapper could face about four to five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, while the defence has suggested a two-year sentence.
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy juror points to where defense ‘poked holes' in prosecution's case to get racketeering acquittal
A jury of his peers found rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs not guilty of the most serious charges he had been facing on July 2. On that day, the jury told the courtroom the government had not proven the disgraced music mogul participated in a racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking. However, Diddy was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. An alternate juror, who presented his badge to Fox News Digital for confirmation, explained where Diddy's defense had "poked holes" in the prosecution's case. "I mean, there were always moments where there was, you know, when the defense really was able to get in," the juror told Fox News Digital. "I mean one that really stood out for me… I even wrote it in my notes, was the cross-examination of Dawn Richard. But Miss Westmoreland, you know, her cross-examination of her, and even Bana. I mean… she definitely poked holes. I think that's why they had her do that, but just to see how she did it, it really was something just to behold." Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified that she told Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, to leave the rapper after witnessing him physically assault the musician. Diddy and Richard were in the recording studio when he allegedly said that what was witnessed the day before was "passion" and what people in relationships do. He claimed Cassie was OK and that it was best if they didn't say anything. The rapper allegedly said that where he's from, people go missing. Richard heard his words to mean that people end up dead. Diddy's attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, brought up inconsistencies in Richard's multiple interviews with prosecutors. The defense attorney also highlighted the fact that the singer hadn't disclosed Diddy's alleged threat against her life until a week before the trial. "It was a death threat that you didn't recall on seven different occasions?" Westmoreland questioned. Diddy's defense also intensely cross-examined Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie. Bongolan, who sometimes went by the nickname "Bana," testified that Diddy dangled her off the ledge of a 17-story balcony. During cross-examination, Westmoreland was able to get Bana to admit she couldn't remember details of the alleged incident. WATCH: DIDDY'S DEFENSE 'POKED HOLES' IN PROSECUTION'S WITNESS TESTIMONY, ALTERNATE JUROR SAYS The alternate juror, who listened to seven weeks of testimony but did not participate directly in deliberations, did note that he would have "reached the same conclusion that the jurors had made" on the racketeering charge. He also praised both sides for being "at the top of their game" in the Southern District of New York, describing the SDNY as the "top district" and "the place for trials." "It was really like a movie," the juror said. "Just as a witness who's never been, you know, who's never been really in the court, never been a juror… never followed the courts or never done any of this stuff, just to be there and watch that and how they conducted themselves was very memorable." WATCH: DIDDY 'DODGED A BULLET' BEATING RICO CHARGE IN SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL, EXPERT SAYS Diddy was "always very engaged" throughout the trial, according to the juror. "You could tell that he was fighting the whole time. He was always writing notes whenever there was a cross-examination. He was taking notes, giving them to the lawyer. So, I found that to just be all very interesting." The rapper's presence never "intimidated" the alternate juror, who said he'd never seen Diddy or followed his music. "So, just to see him in person every day with his white hair was completely different than anything I ever saw," he told Fox News Digital. "So it was definitely memorable in that way. But I never felt intimidated or looked at him as a celebrity in any way to impact impartiality. I was just sitting and just listening to all the evidence that was presented." Judge Arun Subramanian set Diddy's sentencing hearing for Oct. 3. He could face up to 20 years behind bars, 10 years for each count of transportation to engage in prostitution. The alternate juror explained he just hopes Diddy gets the help he needs. "I do think that when they had the opening arguments, they basically presented Diddy as a very flawed individual — a drug addict, a sex addict, a person that has many flaws," the juror recalled. "So I think whatever sentence he's given… I hope that he just gets the help that he needs. If he's in prison, I hope he can get the help that he needs." He added: "I just hope that he takes that time to just reflect and get the help that he needs." According to Diddy's defense lawyer, the disgraced music mogul will reenter a program for domestic batterers after he is freed. He had begun the program shortly before his arrest in September 2024. "He's doing OK," Marc Agnifilo told The Associated Press. He claimed Diddy genuinely desires improvement and "realizes he has flaws like everyone else that he never worked on." "He burns hot in all matters. I think what he has come to see is that he has these flaws and there's no amount of fame and no amount of fortune that can erase them," he said. "You can't cover them up."
