Latest news with #CoveringtheDiddyTrial
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Danity Kane alums Aubrey O'Day, D. Woods reunited to talk Diddy. Here's what went down.
It's a Danity Kane reunion — but pop nostalgia is not on the agenda. Singers Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods, who comprised Sean "Diddy" Combs' former girl group, reunited for O'Day's podcast "Aubrey O'Day, Covering the Diddy Trial," to reflect on their time working with the embattled hip-hop mogul. Combs, 55, has been on trial since May following his September 2024 arrest on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. "It's really triggering. It's really stomach-turning," said Woods, who has not been following coverage of the trial for "mental health and spiritual protection's sake." "Parents and loved ones may even feel a sense of guilt because (at) the time, nobody knew what we were really dealing with and what atmosphere we were really in. I think what people wanted was for us to take advantage of this opportunity" to work with Combs. Danity Kane, a pop-R&B outfit that featured O'Day and Woods alongside Dawn Richard, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres, was formed on Combs' reality competition series "Making the Band" in 2005. The group released two studio albums, 2006's "Danity Kane" and 2008's "Welcome to the Dollhouse," and scored a pair of top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 before disbanding in 2009 (O'Day, Richard, Bex, and Fimbres reunited for a short-lived revival in 2013). Since their time in the group, O'Day and Woods have spoken out about the alleged abuse they experienced working under the Bad Boy Records founder. Woods, appearing in the Investigation Discovery docuseries "The Fall of Diddy," accused Combs of verbal abuse and making sexual advances. O'Day, who was at one point rumored to be a witness in Combs' trial, likened her professional relationship with Combs to "childhood trauma" in a June 2024 interview with People magazine. 'Fall of Diddy' doc revelations: Former assistant, Danity Kane member speak out Additionally, the women's bandmate Richard has taken legal action against Combs, suing him in September on 21 counts of sexual assault and battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination, and copyright infringement. Richard also took the stand in Combs' trial and testified on the physical violence she reportedly witnessed from the Grammy-winning rapper. "We didn't even get questions like, 'Are you safe?' That wasn't in anyone's conversation," O'Day told Woods. "All the girls that didn't make it that were always a little salty along the way whenever we'd run into them, they'd look at us like we're so lucky. And as time moved forward, we would ... get back together (and be) like, 'Girl, you're kind of lucky you didn't make it.'" D. Woods felt 'like a piece of meat' working with Diddy While reflecting on Richard's lawsuit and its claims of sexual abuse, Woods and O'Day spoke about Combs' alleged treatment of the girl group. Woods said while she doesn't recall being sexualized by the music mogul, she alleged Combs frequently belittled the women in his remarks. "I didn't feel the sexual exchange, or maybe I just was oblivious to that because we were mad young," Woods said. "But what I did experience was the dehumanizing objectification and just really feeling like I'm just like a piece of meat, just feeling like I'm being tossed to and fro (with) no consideration of our humanity." "We're all supposed to be on the same team," Woods added. But "he really treated us like we were — like he said to us several different times — 'You are not worth the (expletive) on the bottom of my shoes.'" 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Why D. Woods thinks Diddy fired her and Aubrey O'Day from Danity Kane In a series of rapid-fire questions, O'Day asked Woods about her perspective on their termination from Danity Kane. The women were fired from the group during a meeting with Combs in the 2008 finale of "Making the Band 4." "It was sexual harassment and retaliation. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it,' Woods said. When asked about her own firing, Woods said: "Because I was close to (O'Day), and it was retaliation." Woods' remarks echo her account of O'Day and Combs' relationship in "The Fall of Diddy." The singer said O'Day confided in her that Combs often sent "inappropriate" photos to her, which allegedly included "overtly pornographic" material, and that during a 2008 run-in at New York Fashion Week, Combs reportedly told O'Day she was now "hot enough" to have sex with him. Shortly after O'Day's alleged fashion week encounter, Combs called a mandatory meeting with Danity Kane, during which O'Day and Woods were fired. Woods said Combs retaliated against O'Day, in part, because she didn't "succumb to his advances." "He wanted her to feel powerless and question her worth," Woods said. "I feel like that's part of the same reason why he probably got rid of me, too." Contributing: Naledi Ushe and Jay Stahl, USA TODAY
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sean 'Diddy' Combs speaks out in court with four-word message during sex crimes trial
' ' Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, verbally addressed those inside the New York City courtroom where he was being tried on May 20. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "I love you all," said Combs aloud as court adjourned for the day, before adding under his breath, according to E! News, "Yeah. Love." He went on to speak to a woman in the gallery, telling her in what appeared to be a reference to his 31-year-old son , "Please let Justin know I'm thinking of him," according to E! News. However, this was not Combs' first public declaration of love in his trial. While Combs has yet to take the stand, several notable figures from his past have already testified in the proceeding--including ex-girlfriend . In her testimony, Ventura said she participated in hundreds of sex parties known as "freak offs" with hired escorts at the instruction of Combs, as per the outlet. Ventura ultimately left Combs in 2018 after more than a decade of dating. "It was always in the back of my mind that I would somehow be hurt by him," Ventura testified. "Sean is a really polarizing person. He was very charming, it was hard to decide in that moment when he was telling you what he wanted. I just didn't know what would happen," according to E! News. Earlier, singer Aubrey O'Day reacted to Sean 'Diddy' Combs's federal trial. She said, "This trial is bittersweet for me, as I've been speaking the truth about Diddy for 20 years now." She later shared that her podcast on the saga, & T.J. Holmes Present: Aubrey O'Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, will allow her to heal nearly two decades after Combs removed her from Danity Kane on MTV's Making the Band in 2008. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This podcast is the first step in reclaiming my voice and career that I was robbed of when I was abruptly fired from my band in order to appear discredited," she said. O'Day continued, "My heart goes out to all the victims, especially those who could have been spared, had anyone taken these claims seriously prior," as per People. "My sincere hope is that justice will prevail and for there to be further systemic changes within the music industry to prevent all forms of abuse from those in a position of power," the star concluded.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aubrey O'Day Says She Won't Be Testifying at Diddy Trial
Aubrey O'Day has confirmed she will not be taking the stand in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal sex-trafficking trial. The former Danity Kane member made the announcement on Friday (May 16) during the premiere episode of Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present: Aubrey O'Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast recorded in New York City. More from Billboard Cassie's Husband Alex Fine Defends Wife's Testimony at Diddy Trial: 'You Did Not Break Her Spirit Nor Her Smile' Live Nation Announces $30 Summer Concert Ticket Program at North American Amphitheaters HYBE Latin America Launches Reality Series to Find Next Latin Boy Band 'I'm not here to testify for the Diddy trial, that I know of,' O'Day said, according to People. The 41-year-old singer suggested her involvement could still evolve, revealing she had been 'contacted by Homeland Security' and had a meeting with the agency, which led March raids on Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Earlier in the week, O'Day — who appeared on MTV's Making the Band under Diddy's mentorship — sparked speculation about a possible court appearance after sharing a cryptic Instagram post from New York City. 'Hey New York!!! Where y'all think I should head first?' she wrote on May 14, including a scale emoji. Us Weekly also reported that a source claimed O'Day was subpoenaed to testify at the trial. During the podcast episode, O'Day clarified the post's intent. 'I posted on my Instagram that I was here in New York and enjoying myself because I wanted to make it clear to everyone that I am not here testifying,' she said. Diddy is currently facing multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. His trial is set to resume Monday (May 19). If convicted on all counts, he could face life in prison. O'Day previously spoke out after Diddy's September 2024 arrest. 'The purpose of Justice is to provide an ending and allow us the space to create a new chapter. Women never get this. I feel validated. Today is a win for women all over the world, not just me. Things are finally changing,' she wrote on X at the time. Danity Kane, the girl group formed in 2005 on Making the Band, was signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records. O'Day was removed from the group in 2008 and later claimed on the Call Her Daddy podcast in 2022 that her exit stemmed from her refusal to comply with non-music-related requests from the music mogul. Best of Billboard Diddy Judge Rejects Claim That Prosecutors Leaked Surveillance Tape of Cassie Assault Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day shares whether she'll testify at P Diddy trial
Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day spoke on a new podcast about whether she will be testifying at the ongoing Sean 'Diddy' Combs' high-profile trial Danity Kane alum Aubrey O'Day announced she will not be testifying at the high-profile trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The disgraced rapper, 55, has been in court all week as he faces a number of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. The music mogul was arrested in September and strongly denies all allegations made against him. He has been in prison since his arrest, with a number of bail requests rejected. His former partner of 10 years, Cassie Ventura, has been on the stand most of the week. In a recent interview, Aubrey - who rose to fame under Diddy's guidance - discussed the trial. Speaking to T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach in the premiere episode of a new podcast about the trial, the 41-year-old singer said she won't be testifying despite allegedly being contacted by Homeland Security. She previously shared a social media post on May 14 which some thought was a hint at a possible appearance at the trial. Taking a snap in New York City, she captioned the post: "Hey New York!!! Where y'all think I should head first?" There was speculation she was subpoenaed but she said on iHeart Radio's Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present: Aubrey O'Day, Covering the Diddy Trial: "No, I'm not here to testify for the Diddy trial, that I know of." She claimed she was contacted by Homeland Security and "did have a meeting with them" regarding a testimony. Aubrey said: "I posted on my Instagram that I was here in New York and enjoying myself because I wanted to make it clear to everyone that I am not here testifying." She added: "I look at the beginning of 'Making the Band' and little Aubrey auditioning, and I'm like, 'I don't know how I became the sexy face one." The star worked with Diddy in 2005 for his hit programme, Making The Band, which he was the executive producer of. She quickly became a fan favourite and became a member of Danity Kane, who were signed to Bad Boy Records. Other members of the band included Dawn Richard and Shannon Bex. During Making The Band 4, Diddy revealed that Aubrey was soon kicked out of the group. Further episodes of Aubrey O'Day, Covering The Diddy Trial, will be released as the trial continues.
